Pair of Mwali Armbands (#2) - Trobriand Islands - Papua New Guinea Sold
Price: $0.00
Mwali armbands were seldom worn - they were
usually suspended from a braided rope. Mwali
would be better described as currency, used for
brideprice & wealth exchanges. Originally they
were circulated in pairs until the early 1900’s.
In 1904 it was reported that a bride price = 43
arm shells, 3 pigs & 100 dog teeth. In 1975 the
bride price = 836 arm shells, 67 bags of rice,
14 hands of bananas, 31 bags of sugar & 3,245
kina (PNG currency).
8"H x 6"W
|
