KAGIN'S MARCH 11-15, 2021 AUCTION

The Charles J. Opitz Reference Collection of Primitive/Odd & Curious Money Mr. Opitz has personally selected highlights of his outstanding refe...

Lot: 4001 Header: Papua New Guinea Title: (b)Aprons with Pig Tails(/b) Description: Two aprons used as currency, one ornamented with pig tails. Low Es

Lot: 4002 Header: Title: (b)Pre-1973 New Guinea Weapons(/b) Description: A group of arrows and spears used in trade; Opitz acquired from natives whe

Lot: 4003 Header: Title: (b)More New Guinea Arrows and Spears(/b) Description: A similar group. Low Estimate: 500 High Estimate: 900 Pedigree Collect

Lot: 4004 Header: Title: (b)Bagi Necklace, ex Howard Gibbs(/b) Description: Bagi necklace, very old, mounted; this example illustrated in Opitz, p. 2

Lot: 4005 Header: Title: (b)Kula Trade Items(/b) Description: A second example of bagi, plus a large polished stone axehead from the Trobriand Island

Lot: 4006 Header: Title: (b)Old Trade Belts(/b) Description: Four belts used in trade, a good variety: bark belt 4-1/2" wide, carved, Mt. Hage...

Lot: 4007 Header: Title: (b)Full Circle Boar's Tusk!(/b) Description: Full circle boar's tusk, 4-1/4" in diameter. See Opitz, p. 87. F...

Lot: 4008 Header: Title: (b)Full Circle + 1/8 Boar's Tusk!!(/b) Description: Full circle plus 1/8 boar's tusk, Opitz, p. 87. Even rarer tha...

Lot: 4009 Header: Title: (b)Boar's Tusk Necklaces(/b) Description: Two boar's tusk necklaces, each with 47 tusks, the second necklace illus...

Lot: 4010 Header: Title: (b)Lime Stick Collection(/b) Description: A collection of 9 bosu lime sticks, some wonderfully carved. These are tiny spatul

Lot: 4011 Header: Title: (b)Bigger Lime Stick Collection(/b) Description: A second group of 13 bosu lime sticks, two of which are illustrated in Opit

Lot: 4012 Header: Title: (b)Cassowary Bird Relics(/b) Description: Cassowary fly whisk and cassowary hat. A large, flightless bird, the cassowary can

Lot: 4013 Header: Title: (b)Dangerous Cassowary Claw Necklace(/b) Description: A necklace of dangerous cassowary claws, cuscus shells, cowries, boar

Lot: 4014 Header: Title: (b)Precontact Stone War Club(/b) Description: A precontact New Guinea stone club shaped like a pineapple on a wood stick, fo

Lot: 4015 Header: Title: (b)World War II Stone War Club(/b) Description: WW II New Guinea war club, stone head. Low Estimate: 500 High Estimate: 900

Lot: 4016 Header: Title: (b)Century-old War Club(/b) Description: Gazelle Peninsula, Island of New Britain (Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea),

Lot: 4017 Header: Title: (b)Sepik River Bride Price(/b) Description: Bride price item: Two large conch shells, painted, with cassowary feather decora

Lot: 4018 Header: Title: (b)Two Conus Money Necklaces(/b) Description: Two necklaces: conus beads and conus shell rings; latter illustrated in Opitz,

Lot: 4019 Header: Title: (b)Cowry Shell Belt, Necklace(/b) Description: Fantastic condition cowry shell belt plus cowry shell necklace, Dani Tribe? L

Lot: 4020 Header: Title: (b)Cowry Shell Necklaces(/b) Description: Three additional cowry shell necklaces, illustrating three different ways of strin

Lot: 4021 Header: Title: (b)Cuscus Teeth Necklaces(/b) Description: Two necklaces of cuscus teeth, one with 60 teeth and the other with about 240 tee

Lot: 4022 Header: Title: (b)Manhood Initiation Items(/b) Description: A pair of fofonas, Eastern Highlands Papua New Guinea ceremonial ornaments; the

Lot: 4023 Header: Title: (b)Human Finger Necklace!(/b) Description: The Mariwaka Tribe of Papua New Guinea wore necklaces made from the smoked finger

Lot: 4024 Header: Title: (b)Spondylus Shell Headdress(/b) Description: In Papua New Guinea, pieces of spondylus shell were dried at both ends and mou

Lot: 4025 Header: Title: (b)Human Tooth Necklace!(/b) Description: A necklace of human teeth, with spacers, used in Papua New Guinea as money until t

Lot: 4026 Header: Title: (b)Kina Shell Money, Bride Price(/b) Description: Kina mokas were used as money and bride price by several tribes in a large

Lot: 4027 Header: Title: (b)Marsupial Teeth Necklace(/b) Description: The Kapauku Tribe prized necklaces of marsupial teeth, called kedege ego dokpe,

Lot: 4028 Header: Title: (b)(i)Nassa(/i) Shell Money Pair(/b) Description: Nassa shells were broken, threaded on a cord, and attached to a backing; b

Lot: 4029 Header: Title: (b)More (i)Nassa(/i) "Wife-Buying Money"(/b) Description: Two more examples of this "wife-buying money,&quo...

Lot: 4030 Header: Title: (b)Unusual (i)Nassa(/i) Shell Money Forms(/b) Description: A further pair of nassa currency items, one on bark in the shape

Lot: 4031 Header: Title: (b)(i)Nassa(/i) Currencies and Purse(/b) Description: Three additional examples of Papua New Guinea nassa currency: a long,

Lot: 4032 Header: Title: (b)Very Old, Huge Nassa Money(/B) Description: An enormous almond-shaped bark piece, approximately 30 by 10 inches, covered

Lot: 4033 Header: Title: (b)Ornament with Shells and Bird's Beaks(/b) Description: A rare pectoral ornament and headband, or Wela, 1960s, of t...

Lot: 4034 Header: Title: (b)Impressive Pectoral Ornament(/b) Description: Another Wela type pectoral ornament, not as colorful as preceding lot but e

Lot: 4035 Header: Title: (b)Pectoral Ornament with Photo as Worn!(/b) Description: A third Wela pectoral ornament, together with photograph of native

Lot: 4036 Header: Title: (b)Elaborate Pectoral Ornament(/b) Description: An elaborate pectoral ornament made by the Buang Tribe of Humboldt Bay, Papu

Lot: 4037 Header: Title: (b)Pig Teeth Necklaces, Armband(/b) Description: A necklace of pig teeth and shells; a second necklace of pig teeth, with tw

Lot: 4038 Header: Title: (b)Pig Teeth Ornament, Porpoise Teeth Necklace(/b) Description: A miniature ornament of wood and pig teeth and a necklace of

Lot: 4039 Header: Title: (b)Unusual Pig Teeth Necklacesv Description: A fine necklace of 59 pig teeth with fiber backing, and a second necklace o

Lot: 4040 Header: Title: (b)Rare, Pristine Kukukuku Salt Barv Description: The tiny (population 1,500) Baruya Tribe, part of the Kukukuku people,

Lot: 4041 Header: Title: (b)Shell Money Breast Pendant, Ex Gibbs(/b) Description: Rare shell money breast pendant, mounted, from famous Gibbs Collec

Lot: 4042 Header: Papua (Irian Jaya) Title: (b)Bride Price Aprons(/b) Description: Small apron of colored fibers, decorated with 12 boar's tusks...

Lot: 4043 Header: Title: (b)Fringed, Beaded Bride Price Apron(/b) Description: Magnificent beaded apron with colored fringe. Another outstanding item

Lot: 4044 Header: Title: (b)Finger Chopper Tool!(/b) Description: It was a custom of the Dani Tribe for grieving widows to chop off the tops of one o

Lot: 4045 Header: Title: (b)Tall, Carved Wooden Drum(/b) Description: A fine wooden drum, carved and partly painted. In the Asmat region of Irian Jay

Lot: 4046 Header: Title: (b)Shell Money to Buy Pigs or Canoes(/b)] Description: Mikak, a huge baler shell formed into a spoon shape and with smaller

Lot: 4047 Header: Title: (b)Male and Female Je Stones(/b) Description: Two je stones, elongated slate ovals with a central fiber band, one male (thic

Lot: 4048 Header: Title: (b)Additional Je Stones Description: Two additional je stones, 20 x 4-3/4 inches and 20 x 4-1/2 inches. See Opitz, p. 16

Lot: 4049 Header: Title: (b) Description: A jetak, a long, knitted fiber band with cowry shells and orchid fiber sewn down the center at regular inte

Lot: 4050 Header: Other Oceania Title: (b)Choice Solomon Islands Abaquero Description: In the Solomon Islands beaded armbands were made with the w

Lot: 4051 Header: Title: (b)Impressive Abaquero Description: An impressive Solomon Islands abaquaro in very choice condition. See Opitz, p. 11. L

Lot: 4052 Header: Title: (b)Chief-worn Bakhia—Red, White, and Blue Description: On Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands, breast ornaments calle

Lot: 4053 Header: Title: (b)Another Bakhia, White and Grey Beads Description: A second example of a Solomon Islands bakhia, this with white and g

Lot: 4054 Header: Title: (b)Virtually Perfect Bakhia Description: Another bakhia from the Solomon Islands, virtually perfect. See Opitz, p. 29. P

Lot: 4055 Header: Title: (b)Bani'au Bride Price Money Description: Bani'au consist of six strands of shell beads, each six arm lengths lon...

Lot: 4056 Header: Title: Second Bani'au Example Description: A second example of bani'au; Opitz, p. 32. Also illustrated in NNP edition, ...

Lot: 4057 Header: Title: Clan or Chief Badge Description: This object, a badge of a clan or chief, displays multiple cut out kina shells. It i

Lot: 4058 Header: Title: Cut Out Kina Shell Badge Description: A similar badge from the Solomon Islands made with cut out kina shells and bead

Lot: 4059 Header: Title: Money for Chiefs and for Bride Price Description: Solomon Islands barava (or mbarava) are fretworked plaques made fro

Lot: 4060 Header: Title: Very Old Barava/Mbarava Money Description: Another fine barava or mbarava, with a single figure at the top and center

Lot: 4061 Header: Title: Chief's Money Items Description: A final barava/mbarava, in circular form. Beautifully carved and symmetrical. See Op

Lot: 4062 Header: Title: Nine Feet Long Shell Bead Strands! Description: Batafulu is similar to bani'au, but with ten strands of shell beads,

Lot: 4063 Header: Title: Borneo Dowry Beads Description: Two beautiful strings of beads, precious heirlooms, used for dowries and favored for

Lot: 4064 Header: Title: Borneo Beaded Belt Description: A six-strand Orang Ulu beaded belt from Borneo similar to the nine-strand beaded belt

Lot: 4065 Header: Title: Necklace with 15 Fetishes Description: Also from Borneo, a beaded necklace with 15 fetishes attached, together with a

Lot: 4066 Header: Title: Thousand-Year-Old Javanese Beads Description: Jatim, an abbreviation of Jawa Timor (east Java), refers to ancient Ind

Lot: 4067 Header: Title: Necklace with Beads, Claws, Shells, and Bells Description: An exotic necklace combining so-called "padre beads"...

Lot: 4068 Header: Title: Rare Philippine Gold Pango Beads Description: The Ifugao Tribe of the Philippines valued a single pango (pangao) bead

Lot: 4069 Header: Title: Thousand-Year-Old Pelangi Beads Description: A bead industry flourished in Indonesia circa 900 A.D., producing "pelan

Lot: 4070 Header: Title: Trobriand Axe Blade Money Description: In the Trobriand Islands, beku—a large, green-flecked, stone ceremoni

Lot: 4071 Header: Title: New Ireland Pig-Buying Money Description: Birok is the most elaborate and valuable form of Oceania shell money, used

Lot: 4072 Header: Title: Porpoise Teeth Description: Neck bands and head bands made of porpoise teeth, called biru, were used as money in Mala

Lot: 4073 Header: Title: Bali Cassowary Quill Money Description: Cassowary quill currency from Bali: a bundle of cassowary quills tightly boun

Lot: 4074 Header: Title: Giant Borneo Cannon Money Description: Huge example of genuine Borneo cannon money on modern display stand. In the 19

Lot: 4075 Header: Title: Smaller Borneo Cannon Money Description: A second example of Borneo cannon money, 14" long and richly decorated. This

Lot: 4076 Header: Title: Solomon Islands War Club Description: A well-carved Solomon Islands war club with a ball head, highly valued. Illustr

Lot: 4077 Header: Title: Inlaid War Club Description: An outstanding Solomon Islands club with delicate shell inlay at tip, obviously of very

Lot: 4078 Header: Title: Pearl Shell Gorgets (Dafi) Description: Tribesmen in Malaita Island, Solomon Islands, made pearl shell gorgets called

Lot: 4079 Header: Title: Very Old Double Pearl Shell Dafi Description: Another dafi, very old. It has double pearl shells with dentillated edg

Lot: 4080 Header: Title: Two Examples of Dibidibi Currency Description: Circular shell disks from the top of the cone shell, called dibidibi,

Lot: 4081 Header: Title: Huge Diwarra Coil Description: Nassa shells collected from mangrove swamps on the north coast of New Britain were bur

Lot: 4082 Header: Title: Dog Teeth Strings Description: Dog teeth were prized as money throughout Oceania. Included here are two examples: a s

Lot: 4083 Header: Title: More Dog Teeth Money Description: Two further examples of dog teeth money are included in this lot: (1) many dog teet

Lot: 4084 Header: Title: Imitation Dog Teeth, Flores Earrings Description: Besides strings, dog teeth were also mounted on headbands. They wer

Lot: 4085 Header: Title: Gold Earrings for Bride Price Description: Gold earrings were used as bride price in the Naga Culture of Flores Islan

Lot: 4086 Header: Title: Gold Bride Price Earrings Description: Two additional pairs of gold earrings from central Flores Island: the first ha

Lot: 4087 Header: Title: Wea Wunu Wona Gold Earrings Description: A special type of Flores Island gold earrings is called wea wunu wona. They

Lot: 4089 Header: Title: Brass, Silver Earrings Description: The Dayak Tribe of Borneo is famous for brass earrings cast by the lost wax proce

Lot: 4090 Header: Title: Wire Bound Euk from New Britain/New Ireland Description: In New Britain and New Ireland, the gold-lipped shell does

Lot: 4091 Header: Title: Euk with Shell Beads Description: A second example of euk, this one with five dangles of shell beads attached to one

Lot: 4092 Header: Title: Euk Currency with Rattan Description: Another euk shell, with the ear bound with rattan. See Opitz NNP edition, https

Lot: 4093 Header: Title: Unique Euk with Owners' Names Inscribed Description: New Britain, Melanesia, gold-lip pearl shell with woven fiber an

Lot: 4094 Header: Title: Perfect Number 1 Santa Cruz Feather Coil! Description: For over a century, the only money used in the Santa Cruz Isla

Lot: 4095 Header: Title: Collection of Solomon Islands Feather Sticks Description: Collection of 5 feather sticks from the Solomon Islands: No

Lot: 4096 Header: Title: Exotic New Britain Fiber Currency Unit Description: New Britain fiber currency unit, likely Mengen or Nakanai people:

Lot: 4097 Header: Title: Auki Island Currency, 10 Strings of Shell Beads Description: A perfect tafuliae', a currency unit of Auki Island, So

Lot: 4098 Header: Title: Another Auki Island Currency Description: Another Auki Island currency unit, this one made of 5 strings of shell bead

Lot: 4100 Header: Title: Oceanic Fish Hooks Description: In Guadalcanal, and Marshall and Ellis Islands, fish hooks were made from pearl shel

Lot: 4101 Header: Title: Exotic Solomon Islands Fish Hooks Description: A collection of five exotic Solomon Islands fish hooks, made from shel