Tipoti Nona

This Dugong was hand carved on Badu Island from both white and variegated golden pearl shell. Pinctada maxima oyster shells have two thickened curved areas on each side of the hinge, making it possible for two carvings per shell; one is the mirror image of the other from the curvature of the shell. These are the Oysters that grow Australia’s and Indonesia’s South Sea Pearls, and in Torres Strait the golden variegated colour occurs quite often.