4112

Choiseul Island Sea Worm Money

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Choiseul Island Sea Worm Money
Lot: 4112
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Title: Choiseul Island Sea Worm Money
Description: Kesa consists of sets of thin-walled cylinders now thought to be carved from the shell of a sea worm (or possibly the giant clam, tridacna), used as money on Choiseul Island, Solomon Islands. The natives believe them to be supernatural. This lot contains a single perfect cylinder, or mata, 3 inches in diameter, and three mata bound together in ivory-nut palm leaves, called a salaka. (Three salaka, bound with a cord, made a full kesa.) All surviving elements of the kesa system are very old. Both pieces in this lot illustrated in Opitz, p. 175, upper left.
Low Estimate: 500
High Estimate: 1000
Pedigree Collection: