Cone Shell Armring Called Mwali and Toea From Near Kwikila East of Port Moresby

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Cone Shell Armring Called Mwali and Toea From Near Kwikila East of Port Moresby:
$92.00

On offer is this Toea (also called Mwali) from the area around thevillage of Kwikila in the Central Province of Papua New guinea - about 80kmsouth east of Port Moresby. This is the type of shell money used throughoutthis area and possibly came in trade from the Massim people who have anestablished exchange network with the people of the near coastal area. Highlyvalued from the Torres Strait all through the southern coast of New Guinea andinto the Massim area where they were a necessary part of the Kula. TheTrobrianders call them Mwali but, on the mainland, they are known as Toea inthe Motu language (this is also the name of the conus shell from which it ismade). The Toea is also the name of the coin which is 1/100th of thekina coin.

I obtained this item with another in 1982 from Lawsons Tribal Art sales but it hadbeen collected in the Kwikila area in 1966.The other was sold recently and this is the last that I have for sale. It is in lovely condition with somecustom bananaplant seeds,shells, old trade beadsand banana leaf tassels.The conus shell is 74mm at its widest diameter x 30mm high with the ovula cowrie being about 70mm long. Itmay be returned for refund within 7 days of purchase if not 100% satisfactory.

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Postage to Americais $17.50

Postage toUK & Germany is $23.00

Postage in Australiais $8.50

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