Fofona pectoral ornament
Ref : PNG 060
These ornaments are known as Siripiya or
Fofona . They are woven by women and given to young men after their
initiation, they are also held in the teeth as battle ornaments by the
Big Men. Worn on the chest or sometimes the back, fofona are an
essential part of ceremonial decoration . It is also worn in marriage
transactions and serves as bride price. What also made these items
valuable as bride price were the white cowrie shells which were
valuable currency which had been traded up from the coast via the
barter system, between a number of tribal groups before they finally
made there way to the Highlands. Tribal groups in PNG are very
territorial and you could not simply leave your village and head to the
coast, so the barter system was the way of introducing these mysterious
and precious items to the community. This item is woven with hand made
string and colored with natural pigments it is fringed with nassa
shells there is some old wire running between the two shells. Collected
in the Eastern Highlands in the 60’s In excellent condition for its age
with only some minor shell work missing and possibly a small piece of
weaving bottom right although there appears to be no break.
This model is made of vegetale fiber, cawries and nassa shell and borar's tusk.
Estimated age : 1920-40
This model is made of vegetale fiber, cawries and nassa shell and borar's tusk.
Estimated age : 1920-40
