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Overview
Elaborate costumes and body adornments are a key part of festivities in the west Pacific. This breastplate is part of the bilas (body decoration) worn by both women and men in the Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG). The crescent shape of the breastplate is roughly cut from the edges of a pearl shell and perforated at each tip. Suspended from the perforations is a fine cord of plaited fibre.
Singsing
In PNG singsing are festivities involving body decoration, songs, and dance. During the colonial era, some government officials and missionaries discouraged practices such as singsing. But at the same time, they were deeply fascinated by these exotic and unique occasions, and organised annual singsing performances as a way of displaying PNG culture to outsiders. Now these performances are an occasion for celebrating identity through song, dance, and dramatic and distinctive costume.
Bilas
In the rich mix of song, dance, and costume in PNG, bilas is an essential part of the performance. Bilas varies from region to region, from men to women, and from one occasion to another. Bilas might also include body painting, dramatic headpieces, armbands, necklaces, and masks.
Acquisition
This breastplate is part of a collection that was collected by Mr E R Lockyer between 1968 and 1969 in PNG. The collection was presented to Te Papa's predecessor, the National Museum, in 1973.