TWO NEW GUINEA DRESSES

Ca. 19th - 20th century AD. > A pair of woven and beaded bands, likely components of ceremonial dress. The first piece comprises a broader band of tightly plaited fiber, embellished with clusters of small white shell elements arranged in repeating geometric groupings. The dense weaving and layered construction suggest use as a belt or arm/leg ornament, designed to sit closely against the body while providing visual contrast through the interplay of dark fiber and pale shell. The second, more slender piece features a continuous row of small shell discs or segments stitched along a cord, forming a flexible, rhythmic pattern. A carved fastening element at one end indicates how the ornament would have been secured when worn. Its lighter construction suggests use as a neck, arm, or possibly hair ornament. > > Size: 115-320mm x 30-30mm; Weight: 95g > Provenance: Prince collection, 1990s-2014. > >

Estimate:$200.61

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