Tasmanian Aboriginal Shell Necklaces Win Icon Status inTasmania

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What's in it for anyone if something is dubbed an "icon"? It seems that the National Trust thinks that there is something in it for them, and maybe so. The long and short of this kind of thing is that there is some kind of marketing imperative involved. That's alright so far as that goes but when you look at the list and read the rhetoric that comes with the announcement of such things there has to be a tinge of doubt about the sentiments that may be found lurking around somewhere.

Among the disparate mix of 2009's Tasmanian Heritage Icons there are the "shell necklaces made by Indigenous Tasmanians". In wording the nomination like this there seems to be an acknowledgement that there has long been some unarticulated background knowledge that not all shell necklaces made in Tasmania had or have Aboriginal authenticity.

It could be difficult working out whether or not you are looking at "an icon." Well not really if the there is no clear provenance or certificate of authenticity it seems that the safest thing to do is assume that it doesn't have the credibility that would enable it to be a 'Tasmania Heritage Icon.'

For contemporary work this is something that can be arranged relatively easily but it gets to be whole lot more complex when it comes to Antique & Vintage examples.

NEWS LINKS

• [1 – Mercury H'bt 12.11.09 – Bread, honey icon aim]
• [2 – ABC: 9.11.09 – Tasmanian 'icons' recognised]
  
• [3– Advocate – 9.11.09 Cradle Mountain is `choice' with kids]
• [4 _ ABC: 09.11.09 - Icons Listed ]

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.

Shell Necklace – Totham Collection Hobart

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George Totham lived in Hobart at Battery Point and was an enthusiastic collector of furniture, ceramics and artwork. His collecting spanned from 1920's to 70's.

His collection was eclectic and he kept a complete collection of Chinese artefacts in a designated room where he played mah-jong. George Totham was a lawyer and in this role he was involved in the dispersal of many estates in Tasmania. Indeed he is reported to have been the auctioneer at many.

Given the circumstantial evidence, this necklace on the balance of probability originated in the Furneaux Islands and made by any one of a number of Tasmanian Aboriginal women making necklaces there over a long period.

George Burrows Tasmaniana Shell Necklaces

Launceston’s Brisbane Street is home to the proverbial ‘Brisbane Street Barons’. It is Launceston’s main street and the hub of the CBD. Like a number of streets in central Launceston Brisbane Street’s residential properties are circa 1890s to 1930s. It is unsurprising to find that at various locations along the street shell necklaces were once traded. A curio shop, jewellery shop and tobacconist among others figure in anecdotal reports of “shell necklaces being on sale” – particularly in the 1930s,40s & 50s.

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George Burrows purchased a collection of shell necklaces from an auction in Launceston 1978/79. It has been suggested that the necklaces "were made by Miss Stewart" whose property was being dispersed at the estate clearance sale. 'Miss Stewart' had a jewellery shop on Brisbane St.

These necklaces are now a part of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery's collection in Hobart. It is doubtful that 'Miss Stewart' did in fact make the necklaces. On the balance of probability, and the circumstantial evidence, she may well have been a part of the trade in shell necklaces made by Tasmanian Aboriginal women on Bass Strait's Furneaux Islands. She may have also been involved in restringing necklaces made by these women – one necklace in the Burrows Collection seems to suggest this.

The necklaces in the George Burrows shell necklace collection now held by the TMAG are typical of the necklaces that included maireener and other shells that were produced by Aboriginal women on Cape Barren and Flinders Islands in Bass Strait.

There is more to this story so watch this space for developments and if you have any information please leave a comment OR contact the network via Email: shellnecklaces@7250.net

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