[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.he-artefakte.de/Infokina/Kina4.JPG]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.he-artefakte.de/Infokina/Kina3.JPG]
The Kina Shell,
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a ceremonial object and payment in Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya
Ruddy colored Kina Shell from the Foi tribe. The carrying suspension is
red inked and spreads approx. 55 mm. The fastening ends are
decorated with cowry shells. Rests of naming the Kina Shell can be
recognized on the rear side. Dimensions of the shell (BxH): 185x205
mm. Carrying suspension length: approx. 540 mm.
Total weight: 438 g
General:
The Kina Shell is manufactured from the shell of the Gold lip shel
l (Pinctada maximums) and was part of the traditional payment and
medium of exchange in Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya. She gave the
modern currency the name "Kina" in Papua New Guinea.
Fundamental is the polished, crescent-shaped shell with 2 drillings at
the ends, the real object of value. Some Kina Shells have a broad
carrying suspension, some have a simple cord with pulled up seed
capsules, or just a simple carrying cord.
The Kina Shells of the Foi tribe will be ruddy coloured and are
additionally decorated with scratch and/or point decorations. Particular
large and beautiful Kina Shells were often provided with an own name,
kept in richly decorated bags and were given together with the bag to
others.
Use and Value:
The Kina Shell was an object of value and an essential part of the bride
price. The value is guided from the condition of shell, the size and the
colour. Most valued were the ruddy coloured Kina Shells. They had the
highest valency and acceptance in the Mount Hagen area.
In the Sepik area the carrying suspension of the Kina Shell near the
drillings were decorated with Nassa Shells.
In the past, 8 Kina Shells were worth a fully-grown pig, for one shell one
could get 1 small pig. The value of the Kina Shell surely varied from
region to region. Until the 1960`s it had a fixed exchange rate of 12
shillings per pair.
Apart from the men also women carried it as ornament and sign of the prosperity.
At feasts or bride negotiations, together with other bride presents, a
corresponding number of Kina Shells were presented on a tray like
underlay.
With the arrival of the white men around the turn of the century the
increasing import of Kina Shells increasingly expired their value. After
this, they were only used mainly as ornament and at feasts.