Breast Ornament

8 in. x 4 1/4 in. (20.32 cm x 10.8 cm)

This object has the following keywords:

• Melanesian - Describes the culture and style of the inhabitants of the Melanesian Islands. Melanesians are well known for creating sculptures utilizing a vast range of media, their traditional communal architecture, and body arts.
• New Britain - Describes the culture and style of the inhabitants of New Britain Island.
• Oceanic - Cultures and styles of various regions in Oceania, comprising islands scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean (generally excluding Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines), but including Australia.
• Papua New Guinea
• shell beads - Beads that are created from natural shells, usually having a hole drilled in the shell to allow stringing. May also include beads having shells as a material, carved or ground down so as to not resemble shells when completed.
• tusk - General term for material made from tusks, which are large protruding teeth found in elephants, walruses, narwhals, and boars. Tusks, like other teeth, have a soft center surrounded by hard dentin primarily composed of calcium hydroxyapatite with smaller amounts of calcium carbonate, calcium fluoride, magnesium phosphate, and ossein. A hard durable enamel forms a smooth outer surface. Tusk has been used to make sculptures, handles, and other items.
• woven material - General term for materials comprising fibers or other components that are created by weaving. Includes, but not limited to, woven textiles.