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'Ula sisi

human history
  • Other Name

    Necklace of shells (English)

  • Description

    'Ula sisi. Necklace of shells. This 'ula (necklace) is made of two types of sisi (shells). White bi-valve sisi and pink univalve sisi threaded in an alternating pattern, with two univalve sisi held inside one white bi-valve sisi. The white sisi are round and ridged with a serrated edge. While the pink sisi are smooth, coiled and circular. The sisi have been threaded together using a clear nylon string.

    With the absence of a fastening mechanism the nylon has been tied into several knots to keep the 'ula sisi together. The sisi are fragile and the holes used to thread nylon have weakened the sisi. As a result three white sisi have broken off leaving a few gaps in the 'ula sisi. 'Ula sisi were made to be worn at festive occasions or offered as gifts of welcome or farewell.

  • Place
    Samoa/Pacific
  • Accession Number
    1994.83
  • Accession Date
    26 Apr 1994
  • Other Id

    54756.1 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

necklaces 54756

Images and documents

Images

  • necklaces 54756
  • necklaces 54756

Artefact

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