4059

Money for Chiefs and for Bride Price

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Money for Chiefs and for Bride Price
SOLD
400.00USD+ (80.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2021 Mar 12 @ 10:41UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
Lot: 4059
Header:
Title: Money for Chiefs and for Bride Price
Description: Solomon Islands barava (or mbarava) are fretworked plaques made from semifossilized tridacna shells. Originally they represented land titles, but were later used as money by chiefs. None have been made since the 1920s. A single barava, nearly a foot long, carved with seven people in cutout. This example illustrated in Opitz, p. 35, bottom. Also included is a Barafe; these are long strips of shell disks carefully woven into native string and used as part of bride price on the northern part of Malaita Island, Solomon Islands. Men of the Tobita Tribe wrapped them around their necks before setting out on raids. An outstanding example of this rare currency.
Low Estimate: 500
High Estimate: 1100
Pedigree Collection: