‘Kap kap’ is the name of this headdress for high-ranking men, which was worn on a wide, woven headband directly on the forehead or on the side on the temple. In the north of the Island of New Ireland (northeast of New Guinea), as well as on the Western Solomon Islands. A ‘Kap kap’ consists of a round, white disc, which was cut and smoothed from the shell of a giant clam (‘Tridacna gigas’).
To this white disc a second dark brown, contrasting and finely executed disc made of tortoiseshell was applied and firmly affixed to the white shell disc underneath through a central hole with a string made of plant fibres. The dark tortoiseshell comes from a sea tortoise. The tortoiseshell discs were painstakingly cut by specialists. With fine filigree patterns in circular bands surrounding a central motif. These patterns displayed the rank of the Kap kap’s bearer. The present Kap kap’s very finely executed tortoiseshell decoration displays five all-round patterned bands (high-ranking). The vegetal connective string between the tortoiseshell and the shell disc is affixed on the front by a small, white disc made of shell material and forms a small carrying strap decorated with reddish shell pearls. This ‘Kap kap’ is old. It displays several areas of age-related chipping to the outer rim as well as some old repairs with white coquina (particularly visible on the back). However, the filigree tortoiseshell appliqué is complete and intact. No damage. This is rare.
Diameter: 13.8 cm.
Between c. 1900 and the first third of the 20th century. (ME) ASA

Provenance:
French private collection.

Lit.:
‘Schmuck der Südsee’ by Heermann & Menter, ill. 44, 45; ‘Varilaku. Pacific Arts from the Solomon Islands’ by Crispin Howarth & Deborah Waite, ill. p. 75;
‘Ozeanien. Kult und Visionen’ by U. Menter, ill. 141;
‘Pacific Jewelry an Adornment’ by R. Neich & F. Pereira, ill. p. 115;
‘L’Eclat des Ombres’, catalogue Musée Quai Branly Paris, ill. p. 48, 105, 109.