Te mwae

Te mwae. Neck ornament. This te mwae (Neck ornament) is made with te ira n atu (human hair) and eleven buuro (sea shells) all strung and secured onto a fine cord of te nimwaerere (cord made from human hair and coconut sennit intertwined). The nimwaerere is dark and natural in colours, and tied off in a knot at one far end. Dark green thread secures the fine flat braids of te ira n atu. The buuro are naturally off-white with dark and light brown colouring on the outer surface.

Other Name

Te mwae te buretim

Shell necklace

Place

Beru/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati

Accession Number

1936.295

Accession Date

1936

Other Id

24020 (ethnology)

9 (Maude Collection)

Department

Pacific