Five Turtle Shell Ornaments

Ontong Java Atoll, Solomon Islands
Late 19th–early 20th c

Provenance: Savage collection, Ringwood
Augustus H. Lane Fox Pitt Rivers,
By descent to family members
Nelly Van Den Abbeele, Brussels;
Christies, Amsterdam, 2000, lot 292

This striking group of five turtle shell ornaments comes from the remote Polynesian outlier of Ontong Java Atoll in the northern Solomon Islands. Expertly fashioned from translucent hawksbill turtle shell, each ornament displays the material’s distinctive amber and dark mottled pattern, prized throughout Oceania for its beauty and rarity. Though varying slightly in form and size, the group shares a refined aesthetic marked by clean silhouettes, carefully cut openwork handles, and projecting lateral tabs that lend each piece a bold, graphic presence.

Ornaments of this type were worn as prestigious personal adornments during ceremonial occasions and dances, often suspended from the body or incorporated into elaborate regalia. Their shimmering surface caught the tropical light, enhancing the visual impact of the wearer while simultaneously signaling rank, status, and participation in important social and ritual events. The use of hawksbill turtle shell—a valued material obtained through skilled hunting and careful craftsmanship—further emphasized the wealth and prestige of the owner.

Height (1 tall): 6 in / 5.1 cm