Tribal Necklaces lots of pics

I won this box lot at a auction some time ago, I did not know these were in it they were at the bottom I have no idea where they are from any ideas?

 

No clue but...the 2 middle shells on your first image appear to be a shell from the "Cyphoma" Family

 

These kinds of natural beads/ethnic jewelry were popular in the 70s. I don't know how common they were in later years.

I know the white beads in the first necklace are seeds, but don't remember what type.

 

I'll say Africa....due to the seeds, beads, & cowrie shells..

 

That is them also know as a Flamingo Tounge found from NC to Brazil. That helps some

 

There are 3 different seeds the white and gray I found this morning and before I found the name google crashed on me. So I will try to remember my search

 

The teeth in my fourth picture is from a parrot fish found it here

http://crexsblogdomain.blogspot.com/2013/07/parrotfish-pretty-fish-with-dirty.html

 

Pat I think the gray and what are called Job's Tears

 

That could be, Johnett. I'm not sure if I ever knew the type of seed.

 

the red seeds are abrus precatorius

I am thinking maybe eastern native american or south african I am torn between the two

 

The pearly grey seeds are Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), and the red/black ones appear to be (Abrus precatorius) known by a number of different local names. Both are native to the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, and widely used in jewelry.

Based on the over-all look and construction of the necklaces, I'd say they were from New Guinea. But since there are over 1000 different tribes in Papua New Guinea, and over 300 in Papua (the former Irian Jaya, the western part of the island of New Guinea), it's unlikely it can be narrowed down much further.

A warning, however, on handling the red/black seeds. If they are Abrus precatorius, they are extremely poisonous, and can cause kidney failure if ingested, if they come in contact with the blood stream through a cut, or even from rubbing one's eyes after handling. They are on the U.S. government's controlled substance list.

 

Taupou not to offend you and your knowledge I am going to disagree on location. The Papua New Guinea in their construction used more woven fibers. The shells are from the Alantic Ocean and the tiny glass seed beads I have never seen the Papua New Guinea use.
Again no offense just trying to figure it out if I am wrong I apoligize

 

Papua is the former Irian Jaya, not Papua New Guinea. It is a part of Indonesia, located on the island of New Guinea. Glass seed beads are commonly used in parts of Indonesia.

However, when you buy a mixed box lot at auction, there's no reason to believe that all the items in it came from the same part of the world.

The brown beads that look like little chunks of rock or something, may have come from a different part of the world than the shell and seed necklace it is next to.

Job's tears are the most common type of seed used in tribal jewelry in the tropics, and shells have been popular trade items for centuries.

But please do take seriously the warning about the red/black seeds. They could be lethal. If they are, indeed, abrus precatorius there is no known antidote to the toxin they contain, and should probably be destroyed, not sold.

 

The brown in the 6th picture are seeds also the brown in the 7th picture is to light to be is to light to be rock.