A very fine and early man’s bag used for carrying essential belongings. The bag itself is of a very tightly woven bush fiber ornamented with three long complex tassels. The bag embroidered with minute nassa shells set in three large bands, the tassels are edged with nassa shells as well. Men carried their betenut and lime spatula or stick in these bags along with small amulet figures which were either in the bag or attached to the outside.

Coastal region between the Astrolabe Bay Area and the Sepik Delta, PNG, Melanesia.

48 x 35 cm. 19th/20th century.

Ex coll. : Walscharts, a taxidermist in Antwerp.