Civa Vonovono

human history

Civa Vonovono. Breast ornament. The Civa Vonovono is constructed from composite materials. A large circular shell of civa (mother of pearl) dark and iridescent in colour is the base onto which four cut and polished pieces of off-white sui ni tovuto (whale ivory) are attached by a sewing or planking method with fibre threaded through drilled holes in the components visible only from the back of the ornament. Surrounds tied by vau (hibiscus fibre) through converging holes in ivory and shell. One hole in shell has tie of plaited horse hair. Each of the sui ni tavuto have a raised and serrated outer edge with the exception of the top framing piece. The civa pearl has a four cornered kalokalo (star) tied to it with sennit through two holes.

Accession number: 1925.92 Last Update: 20 Sept 2018
Other Name

Breastplate (English)

Place
Fiji
Accession Number

1925.92

Accession Date

30 Apr 1925

Other Id

13337 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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Civa vonovono, 1925.92, 13337, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 10 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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