Te mwae te uba

human history

Te mwae te uba. Neck ornament of pearl shell. This mwae (neck ornament) consists of a large uba (mother of pearl shell) of a golden yellow variety. It has been ground and highly polished into a disc shape with a high glossy sheen. There is a small perforation at top end near the hinge. Threaded through the hole is 3-ply kora string (coconut sennit) on which is strung an alternating pattern of te moromoro (trade bead) in red, forest green, and white. The kora is not tied together.

Accession number: 1936.295 Last Update: 30 Nov 2018
Other Name

Neck ornament of pearl shell (English)

Accession Number

1936.295

Accession Date

1936

Other Id

22940 (ethnology)

258 (Maude Collection)

Department

Pacific

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Te mwae te uba; 1936.295; 22940, 258; Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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