Mwali (shell armband)

In the Papua New Guinea province of Milne Bay, which has about 600 islands, and now a population of around 200,000, shell armbands known as 'mwali' were circulated counter-clockwise, in the complex system of exchange known as the 'kula ring'. The chest ornament called doga/dona/doana is used for rites and ceremonies, and is a very fine example.

These important pieces were collected by Brigadier John Durnford-Slater of the British Army, who was the first British Commando in the Second World War. For his services, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Slater acquired these pieces while stationed in India, around 1935, where he was posted for about four years. The artefacts were given by Slater to a pilot friend who later settled in the South Island. These significant artefacts are excellent examples of key cultural objects from mid 20th century Milne Bay communities. They also illustrate how artefacts move from place to place,beyond their point of origin, through relationships and events.