Bridal wealth Veil / ornament (ambusap), middle Sepik river area, this finely woven and shell decorated ornament was worn on the head during bridal ceremonies and is also an important form of traditional shell wealth that are family heirlooms. It is made from finely woven tree bark fibre, rope, and decorated by individually sewing each Cowrie, Nassa, Conis and Bailer shell over the entire surface, the terminus has a finely woven crocodile head with several egg Cowrie shells. There are also pearl shells crescent ornaments dangling from the sides. Provenance: Collected by Todd Barlin 1986. (see field photo for a similar Bridal wealth Veil in the Sepik), 92 cm