Tooth and Bone

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Goroka Show Princess contestant wearing multiple dog tooth necklaces.

Dog teeth, flying fox teeth, crocodile teeth, porpoise teeth, pig's tusks and teeth, all are used for jewelry in New Guinea. Dog teeth were so valuable during the colonial period, that the Germans manufactured porcelain dog teeth in Europe and imported them to New Guinea before WWI for bartering. Strings of dog teeth are part of a family's wealth and are worn for special occasions.

Double strand necklace of flying fox teeth and tradestore glass beads.

The flying fox (blakbokis or fruit bat) necklace is from the grass country between Wewak and the Sepik River. A gap is cut in the tree line along a ridge to make a shortcut for the bats as they return from their nightly fruit foraging. After a few nights, a net is hung between the trees to trap them. The bats are eaten and their delicate teeth are saved for necklaces and strung with alternating tradestore beads for color.

Single strand necklace of pig tusks, dog and crocodile teeth, and seeds. This pig tusk, dog and crocodile tooth necklace was made on the Sepik River for trade in the Angoram Haus Tambaran.

Young boy with pig tusk and bird of paradise necklace. Green beetles decorate the headband. Croton leaves are stuck in his armbands and dried grasses add to his feather headdress.

Pigs are one of a man's most valuable items in terms of status. Brideprice, payback, any ceremonial occasion demands partial payment in pigs. Large pigs with tusks that curve back to form complete circles show wealth. The tusks are saved and used for necklaces and nose pieces. Many of the dancers, like the young boy in this photo, have pig tusks as part of their jewelry.

Pig tusk nose piece with bilum string binding.

Bone is also used. Sometimes a deceased relative's or an enemy's bones are worn as a remembrance and as a way to attract their spiritual power. Among some of the Highland people, smoked human fingers and hands were worn on necklaces.

Bracelet ornamented with small bones.

BILAS | Shells are Gold | String and Things

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Photographs, text and maps copyright © Carolyn Leigh, 1996-2007. All rights reserved. Last modified: May 23, 2007
http://www.art-pacific.com/artifacts/nuguinea/bilas/traditional/tooth.htm
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Artifacts on this site are collected in the field by my husband, Ron Perry. I take the photographs, do the html, text and maps. More background in Who We Are. Art-Pacific has been on the WWW since 1996. We hope you enjoy our New Guinea tribal art and Indonesian folk art as much as we do. Carolyn Leigh, P.O. Box 85284,Tucson, AZ 85754-5284 USA, Art-Pacific at http://www.art-pacific.com/