Admiralty Islands Dog Tooth Necklace ex La Korrigane

An exceptional necklace, or choker, composed of 7 rows of beadwork supporting 18 vertical registers carrying a total of 80 engraved dog canines with blackened highlights. It appears, according to the information collected in the field, that this type of necklace, of which there is another identical example* at the MQB-JC in Paris, serves as much as a ceremonial currency used by women during mourning and weddings, as well as an ornament and object of ostentatious prestige.

Mogara Village, Pak Island, Admiralty Islands.
Dogs teeth and blue, white and red European trade glass beads on bush fiber.
Length 43 cm overall.
19/20th century


 

Provenance Provenance:
Acquired by Monique de Ganay from the chief of the village of Mogara.
Brought back by the La Korrigane expedition in 1936 and inventoried at the musée de l'Homme under the number D.39.3.634 (see metal label with embossed number).
Auction : Lot 45, Bretagne Enchères, Rennes, 31 May 2010, « la Collection Océanienne du voyage de la Korrigane », expert Jean Roudillon.
Laurent Dodier Antiquaire, Avranches, acquired at the sale.

Literature: The field collection notes by Mrs. Monique de Ganay indicate:
"LEHEMUI currency. Dog teeth and European beads. Most of these canines are engraved, with an iron tip, with geometric patterns. They are mounted in series of 3, 4 or 5 on a headband of vegetable fiber decorated with blue, white and red beads. This currency is used during ceremonial exchanges during weddings and mourning. Once its ceremonial use is over, it becomes a simple adornment and is worn as a necklace. »


Pub. : Ottino-Garanger, Marc : LES OBJETS DE LA KORRIGANE A TRAVERS LES VENTES PUBLIQUES – État des lieux. Travail privé de compilation sous la direction de Christian Coiffier, Paris 2011/2012, p. 38 et 170.

*See an identical necklace collected by the La Korrigane expedition, acquired at the 1961 « Voyage de La Korrigane » auction by the musée de l'Homme and now under N° 71.1962.1.76 in the collections of the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Paris.

This necklace was exhibited in the 2014 book launch exhibition for the two sketchbooks published of Regine van den Broek at Galerie Meyer, Paris (see instalation views).