A Santa Cruz feather currency roll

A Santa Cruz feather currency roll, Solomon Islands, the two coils with red honeybird feathers centred around bark and hung with strands of shells, the underside of the central strip with an interwoven geometric design, late 19th / early 20th century, 80cm wide, mounted in a stained softwood and glazed case, the door fixed, a paper label inscribed NATIVE FEATHER MONEY, FROM MELANESIA, RICHARD BLUNDELL COMINS.

Rev Richard Blundell Comins (1848 - 1919) was born in Devon and attended Durham University. He worked as a missionary for the Anglican Melanesian Mission from 1877 to 1903 in the Solomon Islands. His postings included Santa Cruz in 1878, St Lukes, Siota from 1894 - 1901 and Florida Islands from 1901 - 1903. The British Museum hold a number of artefacts gathered by Comins which be presented in 1883.