[Mihalic] kapkap

[Thomas H. Slone]

Moses Matamana Havini, from Buka, uses the term on this Web page:
http://www.amonline.net.au/snapshots/yumiyet/crown.htm
"The Kapkap  is an intricately carved turtle shell disc totem 
surmounted on mother of pearl, and is equivalent to a crown."

The term also refers to Solomon Islands ornaments:
http://www.art-pacific.com/artifacts/nuguinea/solomons/jewelry.htm

Perhaps it is a reduplication of the Solomon Islands Pijin word "kap" 
(English cap; Jourdan, p. 91)?  (Though it can also be worn on the 
chest.)

>This word for a particular type of shell-backed tortoise-shell 
>ornament seems to be widely used in the Pacific art world. I came 
>across it in a 1964 paper by H.D.Skinner, who apparently considered 
>it an established trans-national term. I don't find it in Mihalic or 
>on the revision web site, or in any other Melanesian Pidgin source 
>I've looked at. It's not in OED, though it ought to be if it is as 
>widely used as it appears to be.
>Is this a Tok Pisin word?
>Can anyone pinpoint its origin? (Shameful confession: I can't find 
>my copy of Malcolm Ross's paper on AN words in TP)
>Has anyone seen a documented use earlier than 1964?
>
>Ross Clark
>
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