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Pāua shell kea brooch carved by Oscar Coberger
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TitlePāua shell kea brooch carved by Oscar Coberger
DescriptionThis pāua shell kea brooch was carved by expert mountaineer, skier and entrepreneur Oscar Coberger (1902 - 1982), a German who lived and worked in Arthur's Pass from 1926 until 1982.
He learned the art of pāua shell carving from Italian carvers who lived alongside him on Matiu Somes Island and later, in the Pahīatua Internment Camp where they were held as 'enemy aliens' in WW2.
Coberger arranged for pāuā shells to be sent to the camps, which would then be carved into brooches and sent to his wife Dagmar, who would sell the brooches at their shop in front of their home 'The Haus'. As well as kea, Oscar would also carve tiki, butterflies and seahorses.Date1940sSourceJudy Charles
DescriptionThis pāua shell kea brooch was carved by expert mountaineer, skier and entrepreneur Oscar Coberger (1902 - 1982), a German who lived and worked in Arthur's Pass from 1926 until 1982. He learned the art of pāua shell carving from Italian carvers who lived alongside him on Matiu Somes Island and later, in the Pahīatua Internment Camp where they were held as 'enemy aliens' in WW2.
Coberger arranged for pāuā shells to be sent to the camps, which would then be carved into brooches and sent to his wife Dagmar, who would sell the brooches at their shop in front of their home 'The Haus'. As well as kea, Oscar would also carve tiki, butterflies and seahorses.
Date1940sSourceJudy CharlesConnections
PlaceArthur's PassMore InformationRead more about the camp for 'enemy aliens' on Matiu Somes Island in WW2Read more about Oscar Coberger in his official file held at Archives NZRead about the history of pāua shell jewellery in Aotearoa New ZealandSee an image of Oscar Coberger carving pāua on Matiu Somes Island
More InformationRead more about the camp for 'enemy aliens' on Matiu Somes Island in WW2Read more about Oscar Coberger in his official file held at Archives NZRead about the history of pāua shell jewellery in Aotearoa New ZealandSee an image of Oscar Coberger carving pāua on Matiu Somes IslandAttribution
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Pāua shell kea brooch carved by Oscar Coberger (1940s). Selwyn Stories, accessed 17/03/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6685
