Te bwaeao

A large bwaeao (pearl shell) used to fashion fish hooks and kaneati (lure). The exterior is of a mottled grey colour with rough edges. A great amount of incrustation is fixed on the exterior. The interior is of a lustre colour that gradually becomes purple towards the edge. An imprint of where the meat was attached is faintly visible. There are missing elements from the hinge line. The cross-section is somewhat of a crescentic form. The bwaeao can be used to cut out both itikurere (shaft) and hook.

Other Name

Pearl shell (English)

Place

Beru/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati

Accession Number

1936.295

Accession Date

1936

Other Id

24033 (ethnology)

67 (Maude Collection)

Department

Pacific