SOLOMON ISLANDS:LOT of 2 pieces of Melawei clam shell ring, 102mm and 108mm (4") in diameter, lot of 2 items, ex Charles Opitz Collection. The common name for shell rings in the Western Solomons is poata, which simply means "money." In addition, however, the different forms of rings have different names: bakia are yellowish rings, umbu are rings of large dimensions. This ring is a mbarake, a type of ring where the natural clam shell contours often distort the shape. The surface is rough, and the mbarake rings are normally larger than the other kinds of poata. Mbarake were used as money with relatively fixed values for bride price payments and land purchases. Some locals regard them as the oldest form of money in the Western Solomon Islands. And even though the mbarake look rather poor compared to many other poata, they are among the most valuable ring forms. Deaquisition from the Money Museum of Detroit.
Estimate: USD 100 - 200