• In short: An Aboriginal artist says she is gobsmacked by the theft of an echidna quill necklace from an exhibition about to open in Hobart  
• What’s next? Mayor Brendan Blomeley, whose council is hosting the exhibition, says the theft is bizarre because the necklace can’t be sold without a certificate of authenticity

A $5,000 echidna quill necklace made by an Aboriginal elder has been stolen from an art exhibition on Hobart’s eastern shore, days before it was due to open.

The necklace, which was supposed to be part of the Difficult Terrain: Contemporary Tasmanian Jewellery exhibition at Rosny Park, was made by Aunty Jeanette James.

“The actual style is quite unique to me,” she said.

The necklace is made of echidna quills Ms James has collected over the past few years, and twine made out of flax that she has woven herself.

“I have a permit and I can only collect road kill,” she said.

“I bring them home and bury them for six or seven months and let nature do its work and dig them up, when they’re ready, and clean them. Something nice evolves from a tragedy.”

Ms James was “gobsmacked” when she found out the necklace had been stolen. Nothing else had been broken or stolen.

“Whilst it’s a beautiful item, it’s such an odd item to be stolen, as in it’s very distinct,” she said.

 “I’m shocked, but I can be ‘well somebody else liked it as well.'”