ornament, neck

human history

necklace with fibre cord, wrapping of human hair. suspended at intervals are eight whaletooth ivory figures; includes three double spheres, pig with curled tail, rectangular shape. illustrated in 'Polynesian Artifacts' pl 21.

Accession number: 1950.128 Last Update: 24 Aug 2026

Other Name

Necklace of ivory ornaments

Rei

Place

Rurutu/Austral Islands/French Polynesia/Pacific

Accession Number

1950.128

Accession Date

04 Jul 1950

Other Id

31491 (ethnology)

477 (Oldman Collection)

Department

Pacific

Public Access Text

Though prestigious by the nature of the material from which they are made and hence reserved for those of chiefly status, necklaces of ivory and human hair are generally not uncommon in the islands of Polynesia. However, with its attached symbols of power rendered in ivory, this particular style of neck ornament is very rare. The carved symbols representing ‘chief’s seats’, ‘testicles’ and ‘pig’, by their connotations would apparently refer to the influence enjoyed by the wearer over power and fecundity.

ornament, neck

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ornament, neck

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ornament, neck

ornament, neck

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