Big ornament and currency ring «yua»
Abelam, Papua-Neuguinea
cut from tridacna shell, slightly vaulted on the outside, eight notches at the rim, natural veined, place of repair, on base; such rings were used as primitive money but men used to wear them during ritual dances as well. Sometimes they were even given to young girls who were about to marry. They fixed the rings to special bags used to be worn with a headband, and thus made them an important part of their festive costume. They were used for decoration of the big yam root as well.
D: 15 cm (inside), 28 cm

Lit.: Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Ausst.kat. Natur-Museum Coburg 1986, p. 147