Watch List notes:

SOLOMON ISLANDS: tafuliae' shell money, Opitz pg. 330 (plate), 292cm (115") in length, large tafuliae' from the Malaita Island, shells with wooden dividers and red cloth end pieces, a lovely and impressive example! EF, RRR, ex Charles Opitz Collection. Malaitan shell-money, manufactured in the Langa Langa Lagoon, is the traditional currency used in Malaita Island and throughout the Solomon Islands. The money consists of small, polished shell disks which are drilled and placed on strings. It can be used as payment for bride price, funeral feasts, and compensation, with the shell-money having a cash equivalent value. It is also worn as an adornment and status symbol. The standard unit, known as tafuliae', is still produced by the people of Langa Langa Lagoon, but most are inherited, from father to son. This example consists of ten strands of red, white and black disks - about 1300 individual pieces in all. The tafuliae' is still part of the bride price on Malaita; only new creations can be used such as this example whereas old Tafuliae' are not accepted. The collector purchased this example in 1995 when he and his wife visited Auki on Malaita Island and the photo in his book shows Karen Opitz holding this example!

Estimate: 900-1,000 USD