Admiralty Islands Dog Tooth Necklace ex La Korrigane

Provenance: Provenance:
Acquired by Monique de Ganay from the chief of the village of Mogara.
Brought back by the La Korrigane expedition in 1936 and inventoried at the musée de l'Homme under the number D.39.3.634 (see metal label with embossed number).
Auction : Lot 45, Bretagne Enchères, Rennes, 31 May 2010, « la Collection Océanienne du voyage de la Korrigane », expert Jean Roudillon.
Laurent Dodier Antiquaire, Avranches, acquired at the sale.

Literature: The field collection notes by Mrs. Monique de Ganay indicate:
"LEHEMUI currency. Dog teeth and European beads. Most of these canines are engraved, with an iron tip, with geometric patterns. They are mounted in series of 3, 4 or 5 on a headband of vegetable fiber decorated with blue, white and red beads. This currency is used during ceremonial exchanges during weddings and mourning. Once its ceremonial use is over, it becomes a simple adornment and is worn as a necklace. »


Pub. : Ottino-Garanger, Marc : LES OBJETS DE LA KORRIGANE A TRAVERS LES VENTES PUBLIQUES – État des lieux. Travail privé de compilation sous la direction de Christian Coiffier, Paris 2011/2012, p. 38 et 170.

*See an identical necklace collected by the La Korrigane expedition, acquired at the 1961 « Voyage de La Korrigane » auction by the musée de l'Homme and now under N° 71.1962.1.76 in the collections of the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Paris.

This necklace was exhibited in the 2014 book launch exhibition for the two sketchbooks published of Regine van den Broek at Galerie Meyer, Paris (see instalation views).