Te kaneati

Te kaneati. Bonito lure. This is made up of three components: cassis shell, te ira n atu (human hair) and iron metal. The shank is shaped and smoothed from a cassis shell into a tapered form, possibly using an atitai (hard coral stone). The mid-section is the widest and both ends are tapered, interrupted only by encircling furrows at one end. The furrows assist in lashing the iron point and shank togeher. This is done by wrapping a thin, dark-brown, two-ply te kora te ira n atu around the collective items. A portion of unplaited hair is left in a tassle-like manner. The shank is overall an off-white colour. Near the opposite end, a perforation is bored through the body of the shell. A two-ply te kora te ira n atu, of dark brown colour, is looped through this hole and is wrapped tightly and held together by another te kora te ira n atu.

Other Name

Bonito lure (English)

Place

Tabiteuea/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati

Accession Number

1936.295

Accession Date

1936

Other Id

23940.5 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific