The collector from whose estate this comes used to go to the famous Tucson Gem and Mineral Show held annually in Tucson. From the notebooks he left behind, he purchased this piece from the famed New Guinea trader Ron Perry who sold at the show for this show for many years. This particular piece was sold in 1981.

The piece is a woven fiber Nassa shell headdress. It came from the tribes living in the April River of Sepik River regions of Papua New Guinea. Headdresses such as this were often used yea  man as a headband to show his wealth and status. Nassa shells are highly valuable in the Oceanic Islands. They were even used as currency, and their value depended on how bright and shiny they looked. The shells help magical powers. Because of the shells value, only people of importance and wealth could afford to wear them.

The condition is good, and because of its rarity, it deserves to be framed. There are severals areas along the edges where there are breaks in the backing  fiber. It measure 19.5 " wide not including the ties by 5.5" high.