Item X 32088 Midi | Ornament, neck. Tolai. Tolai, Gazelle Peninsula, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea. pre 1919

Summary

This necklace is known as a 'midi' and is worn by chiefs and warriors in the Tolai area. The shells are nasa shells, and there are 2500 in this piece. Nasa shells are also used to make a local form of currency (called "tabu") but though made of the same shells, 'midi' are not currency: they are worn by men of status. Mrs Phoebe Parkinson was a business woman and collector and loaned this object to the War Museum Collection. She may have collected this object or other family members who were all collectors. Phoebe Parkinson, nee Coe, was the sister of Emma Coe who later became known as 'Queen Emma'.

Local Name

Midi

Physical Description

A necklace comprised of 18 bands of cut shells, worn by a chief.