Arfak Conus Shell Disc Currency (Toae) aztec and strength

and strength

Accession number: A113992 (https://collection

Repairs to small areas of one arm and cap

while headhunting and associated practices were suppressed by missionaries in the mid-20th century

the fragment's unembellished surface still conveys its cultural importance

Arfak Conus Shell Disc Currency (Toae) aztec and strengthArfak people, early 20th century, Birds Head Peninsula, Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia A magnificent and beautifully aged Conus shell disc currency (toae), finely worked into a flat, perfectly circular pendant with characteristic concentric carving. These discs were traditionally fashioned from the terminal end of a Conus shell, carefully cut and shaped with bamboo knivesan exacting process that speaks to their high cultural and monetary