Solomon Islands Bride Price, Wealth Shell Ring

A beautiful example from the Western Province, Solomon Islands, fossilised clam shell "Wealth Ring".

These rings were created from semi fossilised, giant clam Shells (Tridacna) which were found in remote quarries' who's  location was a heavily guarded secret only known by a very few and passed on from one generation to another.   This specimen can be identified as originally quarried from  high up (2283 feet) Mt Kela, Ranogga Island, Western Province due to the yellow/brown vein pigmentation in this ring which is considered the highest quality in the region. The location for finding such quarries with the semi fossilised giant clam shells has for centuries been a heavily guarded secret, known only by a very few and the protected information handed down from one generation to the next. Even today the locations remain a secret to all except a very few.

Without modern tools, these items were created using hand made wooden or bamboo drills with stones, water and sand to create friction then rendered smooth by using abrasive sharks skin stips, water and sand. A laborious and lengthy task performed by very few and an artistic skill that has died out over one hundred years ago.

Wealth Rings are different sizes and for centuries was used as the only form of currency until modern money arrived into the Solomon Islands. This size Wealth Ring would have been used in Bride Price exchanges between two families . The young man or his family, would present this wealth ring to the girl he wants to marry  and her family. Even today, this traditional custom continues in many island villages, these shells carry great wealth and may be exchanged, to the girls family, together with "feather money", other smaller forms of shell wealth, strings of fine special red shell money, pigs or other ancient traditional items of value  and in these days modern cash money too.