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Shell money

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A rare type of shell with red elements that can be used to make jewellery. According to the collector, they were mostly imported from the Caroline Islands. Due to their rarity, they were used for trade purposes and such pieces of jewellery are very valuable. Artefacts II/0766b und II/0766c display fragments of the shell.

Data Provider
Museen Freiburg Show original at data provider

Cataloguing data

Object type
Muschelgeld
Dimensions
Width: 60.0 mm
Length: 90.0 mm
Depth: 45.0 mm
Material/Technique
Shell
Current location
Museum Natur und Mensch
Inventory number
II/0766 a
Related object(s)

Provenance and sources

  • Production
    when
    before 1900
  • Change of legal title:
    Donation
    when
    22.11.1901
    who
    Brandeis, Eugen - Former Possessors
  • Change of physical control or legal title
    where
    Marshall Islands (location/origin)
    Micronesia (location/origin)
    Oceania (location/origin)
    who
    Brandeis, Antonie - Collectors
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Oceania
Provenance
Donated by Eugen Brandeis (Imperial Governor of the Marshall Islands) November 1901, collected by Antonie Brandeis (Jaluit) /Donated by Eugen Brandeis (Imperial Governor of the Marshall Islands) November 1901, collected by Antonie Brandeis (Jaluit) Object no. 77 (Object list Antonie Brandeis, 2nd consignment Nov 1901, SAF C3/241/2): "Shell. The small pieces show the laborious way in which the chains are made. Only the red part of the shell is used. This shell is collected on some islands. It is used for export to the Marshall Islands and other islands, therefore very valuable." According to the collector, this shell comes from the Caroline Islands, although it is not clear whether she received it from there or whether the shell already had previous owners in the Marshall Islands. Objects II/0766b+c are associated fragments.

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC0 1.0 DEED

Related objects

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