This beautiful strand is in very good condition. The shells that make up this necklace are iridescent Tasmanian Maireener Shells or rainbow kelp shells, the type found in and around Bass Strait. They are treasured by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Palawa people and the necklaces have been made by the women for centuries and are still being made by those who know the craft. Necklaces have also been made by non Aboriginal people during the early and mid 20th Century and some have been given the name of Hobart necklaces. Now only the Aboriginal people are licensed to collect the shells. Please see the website below for more information on these shells and their use in necklaces.
The shells are threaded on a continuous double strand of twisted cotton which is knotted together to form a continuous strand. There are some shells with tiny holes and a few missing their tops. Generally there is very little damage and the strand presents beautifully. The strand is old and the way the shells are threaded gives a tightly packed strand.
The strand is quite extraordinary in its colour. The coloured necklaces like this one would have been dyed using pen inks.
The shells have green and pink iridescence to the pinkish purple colour. They range in size from around 7mm to 10mm in length. It is 1740mm long.
