Pearlshell necklace
date: label: Accession Date
content: 17 Feb 2017
label: Collection Date
content: 2012
name: label: Collector
content: Jean T. Chapman-Mason
label: Donor Name
content: Jean T. Chapman-Mason
notes: label: Notes
content: Described by donor as: "White rito fibers woven onto polished pearlshell. Polished parau pearlshell of the Pinctada margaritifera from Tongareva (Penrhyn) in the Northern Group of the Cook Islands (Apa Tokerau)" "Purchased from Trade Expo held every year in Rarotonga to coincide with Te Maeva Nui (Constitution Celebrations) held every end of July and culminating on August 4th. Necklace is not the type worn in every day dress, rather it is reserved for special occasions, or for cultural performances. Hangover from the tia or rei of the past (ie talisman necklace) worn by warriors to protect them from harm. After their deaths these were treated as family heirlooms. During a warrior's lifetime it would be sought after by rivals, or enemy warriors who wanted to possess it, especially if the owner was a warrior of renown. Necklace made in Tongareva (Penrhyn)."
label: Record Last Modified
content: 26 Aug 2016
label: Specimen Count
content: 1
place: label: Place
content: Penrhyn (Tongareva) / Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Polynesia
topic: label: Topic
content: Ethnology
culture: label: Culture
content: Cook Islands Maori
setName: label: See more items in
content: Anthropology
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: 2069807
label: USNM Number
content: E433814-0
objectType: label: Object Type
content: Necklace
physicalDescription: label: Length
content: 18 cm
label: Width
content: 16 cm
label: Height
content: 2 cm