Lot 101

This pearl shell was collected by the vendor's great grandfather, George Macandie (1877-1968). In 1903 he was one of the principles who set up the Naval office in Melbourne and from 1914-46 he was Secretary of the Naval Board. It is most likely that he was gifted or collected the pearl shell during this period when he had to travel all over Australia on behalf of the Navy
Thence by descent from 1968, Melbourne

Probably originating from the area around the Beagle Bay Mission, north of Broome on the western side of the Dampier Peninsula.

Anthropologist, curator and author, Kim Akerman, wrote " Natural valves were mostly carved by Aboriginals at either Broome or Beagle Bay for European sale in the past . However, it is obvious that this artist also made shells for the internal indigenous use which also entered into the wider traditional exchange cycle" September 2013

Lord Alistair McAlpine had three pearl shells by the same artist in his collection, whom Akerman refers to as the "Master of the Tiger Shark', these are now held in the collection of Japan's National Museum of Ethnography, Osaka. At least nine examples of this artists work, as identified by Akerman are known to exist .