Shell ornaments, Solomon Islands. Three early 20th century spiral conus shells from the Solomon Islands. These were laboriously sliced with sand and bamboo, which contributed to their value as currency, as well as ornaments for the skull shrines of village chiefs; see archival photo below taken by Rodolphe Festetics de Tolna, 1903. Old collection numbers are painted in black on the side of the shells: t-523, t-524, T-525. They measure 4 to 5.5 inches in height by 6 inches wide (10 to 14 by 15.2 cm). Ex private collection, New Jersey; ex Michael Hamson