A very rare pair of ear ornaments for the use of a Big Man.

These extremely rare jewels are worn suspended by bush-string on the ears of the very high-ranking men (clan elders) and while indicating rank they are also used in magic. The nautilus (nautilidae) shell segments are of course imported from the coast, which is very far away. The complex trade routes, which feed the Highlands with goods from the Lowlands and coastal area's are long and tortuous to navigate. Thus mother of pearl is highly prized in the Highlands as it is extremely valuable and was difficult to obtain in pre-colonial times. Magical incantations and spells were made over objects such as these ornaments to ensure that more pearl shell would arrive safely in the mountain villages. The dried fruit, which serves as the container is carefully emptied out and painted with red lines, a sacred color as are the shell ornaments, which are packed with clay on the rear side. The container is closed off with packing made from accumulated spider web and grass burrs. 
One other field collected example is in the private collection of a French Museum curator.

Possibly Enga People, Central Highlands, PNG, Melanesia. Various materials. 19th/20th century. Fruit : 8,5 cm Ø, 5 cm and 5,5 cm for the two ornaments.