Loin cloth Ndende or eastern Reef Islands, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands Woven banana tree bark fiber, pandanus leaf 106 by 9 inches (269.24 by 23 cm) c. 1900 Ex John Vedder estate, Portola Valley; ex Thomas Murray, CA; ex Melanesian Mission A very long, finely woven loin cloth worn on ceremonial occasions, such as the napa dance and nelanga nelo (dance of the nose ornament). This was worn folded up with the end hanging down in the front. Evidence of wear can be seen in this example through the faint patches of sweat which is visible at regularly occurring intervals along the length. cf. Koch, G., Materielle Kultur der Santa Cruz-Inseln, Berlin: Museum fur Volkerkunde, 1971 Price on request
