Artefact
Artefact
Display location
Credit Line
Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, 1991.70, 53808
Public Access Text
This blackened coconut shell was used as an ipu lama, or mortar for making tattoo pigment. The tattoo artist, Paul Suluape, used this mortar.
This cone shaped pestle for grinding tattoo pigment in conjunction with the mortar also on display. In Samoan tattooing, the pigment for tattooing must be ground before it is used.
Cultural Origin
Primary Maker
Place
Date
Unknown
Associated Place
Media
Measurement Description
105 x 145mm .1 - mortar
174 x 35mm .2 - pestle
Measurement Reading
Classification
Last Update
25 Nov 2021
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