Te uninga

Te uninga. Headrest. This is a head rest. It is made from te ira (pandanus tectorious). It has been cut from the trunk section and hollowed. A fragment of the trunk has been cut out so it can sit flat. It is cylindrical in form. The interior is fibrous and delicate. The exterior where one would lay their head is hard and smooth. The wood colour is of a dark brown tone, however the centre of the surface area is worn in a mid brown tone from use indicating where contact was made by a persons head. The cut ends of te uninga feature small nicks in the wood. The surface appears to have been oiled.

Other Name

Headrest (English)

Place

Nonouti/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati

Accession Number

1940.3

Accession Date

1940

Other Id

25145 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific