Te mwae ni wi n aomata
Te mwae ni wi n aomata. Neck ornament of human teeth. This is made from te kora (coconut sennit fibre cordage) and wi n aomata (human teeth). A two-ply kora has been made to form the neck band. 8 teeth have been threaded and knotted onto the kora. The teeth carry in type depending from where they would have been obtained along the jaw. Small circular perforations have been drilled into the root ends of the teeth, some featuring more than one for the purpose of threading kora through. The wi n aomata are off-white with some pale yellow colouring. The mwae (Neck ornament) has been left unfastened. These types of te mwae can symbolise the victory of a battle, often obtaining the teeth of their opponent. In contrast to this, the teeth could also be obtained from ones ancestors to keep them close by.
- Collection Area
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- Te reo Name
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- Common Name
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- Other Name
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Neck ornament of human teeth (English)
- Other Name Type
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- Description
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- Place
- Gilbert Islands/Kiribati
- Associated Place
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- Field Collection Place
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- Field Collection Site
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- Collection Date
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- Field Collection Date
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- Accession Number
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1936.295
- Accession Date
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1936
- Other Id
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24087 (ethnology)
- Other Id Type
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- Department
- Display Room
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- Restriction
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- Type
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