Traditional Bride-Price Set – Sentani Culture Old Trade Beads and an Ancient Stone Celt This remarkable set of traditional bride-price objects from the Sentani culture represents a rare and beautifully preserved ensemble of ancestral valuables. The collection includes old trade beads of impressive age and patina, combined with an ancient stone celt, a prestigious item traditionally associated with wealth, status, and deep ancestral lineage. In Sentani society, such objects played a vital role in marriage negotiations, ceremonial exchanges, and the reinforcement of alliances between families. Beads of this age — often traded across vast distances and handed down for generations — were treasured possessions, each with its own history. The stone celt, its surface smooth from centuries of handling, served as a symbol of enduring strength and continuity within the clan. The way these beads are presented — exactly as shown in the photos — follows traditional practice, with the strands arranged to highlight their variety, age, and subtle colour gradations. This manner of display enhances both the cultural authenticity and the visual appeal of the set. Together, the beads and celt form a museum-worthy example of Sentani ceremonial wealth: rare, genuine, and full of character. An outstanding acquisition for collectors of Oceanic art and ethnographic material. A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums Sold by Koos Knol, ethnographer and anthropologist, dealer of Papua Tribal Art for more than 30 years, expert and author of the book “Papua Blues”, written in Dutch. (Maybe in English next year.)  Published end of October 2024 A book about inside stories, a book that deals with the many encounters with special people in West Papua, the impressive experiences that the author has, about special encounters with men and women who tell him about secret things, about ethnographic objects and initiate him into the rituals and ceremonies. A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums Google: Papua Blues Koos Knol