A Moka Kina chest plate Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea.
The plate made of resin with a crescentic, yellow-lipped clam shell (kina) set in the center with thin cane sticks above. The whole with little to no remaining pigment but showing good age and wear.Moka Kina breastplates are used in bride price and after the formal Moka ceremony where they are prepared and repainted, they are worn by the bride to be, often many of them. The lack of pigmentation indicates that this example was stored as an heirloom and currency for future bride-price at the time of collection.
 
Provenance: Acquired by Marc Seidler c. 1981. Measures 16 x 14 inches.