Bilas Melomelo Tribal Baler, Cymbium Shell Called Gam by the Primitive Mendi Tribe’s “Big Men” that wear them as Penis cover & pectoral Adornment, Currency, Bride Price, Boat Bailer, Collected in Mid 1900’s, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea BAL1

Bilas, baler, bailer, Gam, melo melo, melomelo. When this volute is not worn as a decoration, it is often collected for food by local fishermen, to use as scoops for powdery substances in local markets and also traditionally still utilized by the native fishermen to bail out their leaking canoes, and where the common name “baler”, the tool, came from. These rare Bailer Shells are the most prestigious ornaments in the Southern Highlands - valued much above anything else. Rare Older Baler Shell called “Gam”, a Prestigious Male Pectoral Ornament, also used as bride price, exchanges, currency etc… This is a large old and rare bailer (baler) shell or Melomelo bailer with an around-the-neck band created with twisted wood fiber twine. The piece was once used as a chest ornament or penile cover during festivals  but also as a trade item, Such rare shells were originally found on the beaches of the Gulf of Carpentaria. : BAL1. This shell has a whitish patina and is extremely large. One of t