Rice shell necklace
2025
Medium
rice shells, maireeners (Phaisanotrochus sp.), cotton thread
Measurements
205.0 cm (length)
Credit Line
Purchased with funds donated by JTM Foundation and Katherine and James Murray, 2025
Gallery location
Gallery 3
Ground Level, NGV Australia
About this work
As a child, Bianca Templar was taught how to create shell necklaces by her grandmother the late Aunty Gloria Templar. Templar’s necklaces honour her grandmother and were created with the guidance of master shell stringer Aunty Lola Greeno. Each shell is harvested, cleaned, processed and strung by the artist. Shell necklaces hold great cultural significance to Tasmanian Aboriginal people and culture, and were traditionally used for body adornment for ceremonial practices associated with life, death and initiation.