Necklace

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-neck ornaments

Culture Dani

Datemid to late 20th Century

Made AtPapua (Irian Jaya) Province, Indonesia

Collection SitePapua (Irian Jaya) Province, Indonesia

MediumCapricorn beetle shell and plant fiber

DimensionsFlexible: 5 1/2 × 5 1/4 × 5/8 in. (14 × 13.3 × 1.6 cm)

Credit LineGift of Jean Brenner

Object number2017.4.32

DescriptionThe Capricorn beetle is a colloquial name for a species of small, black long-horned beetle indigenous to New Guinea. Even in their day to day lives Dani men wear a significant amount of ornamentation. Necklaces made of beetle wing cases strung as we see here are just one of the many mediums used to adorn the body. It is also important that the trade of ornamental items like these happens throughout New Guinea.

Nearby cultures such as the Asmat also used Capricorn beetles as a bead, stringing their heads through plant fiber string to make headhunter necklaces indicating the relative success of the wearer. Based off Jean Brenner’s collection site, it is possible that this object was originally made by the Asmat.

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