Found on eBAY: Shell Necklace – TAS

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The description here is interesting. Here it seems that the word "maireener" is being used to describe the type of necklace and lend 'Aboriginality' to it. 'Maireener' has most often been used in the Tasmanian Aboriginal community to describe a kind of shell rather than a kind of necklace but it has been used both ways. This necklace is typical of the necklaces produced on Tasmania's Bass Strait Islands by Aboriginal women. Interestingly it does not contain any shells described by these women as "maireeners". Watch this space for more information.

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This necklace was offered for sale by the same seller but it does include "maireener" shells. Indeed, there are two kinds of maireener shells. The larger ones are known as "king maireeners" and the smaller shells are those typically referred to as "maireeners". On the balance of probability this necklace originated on the Bass Strait Islands and made by an Aboriginal maker.

Nonetheless, without clear provenance that 'Aboriginal' authenticity is unclear given that it is now known that 'the Martin family' were making large numbers of shell necklaces similar to this one albeit not necessarily with 'king maireeners'. They were doing so in Hobart between 1875 and circa1950s.This necklace is typical of necklaces produced on the Bass Strait Islands by Tasmanian Aboriginal women. The shell are called 'rice shells' and 'toothies' by the makers. All shell names are vernacular names used by the Aboriginal women who collect and thread them.

Watch this space for more information and see earlier posts for more information.