Te kawaruwaru

human history

Te kawaruwaru. Shark rattle shell. This is a marine snail shell otherwise known as a helmet shell. It is bulbous in midsection. It has a flat base where the aperture opens. There is a small point followed by sutures that make up a flat series of spires as part of the whorl. The largest part of the whorls surface features a series of blunt points. Fine ridges make up the surface texture and is coloured in neutral brown and white. The flat opening of the aperture has a polished surface and a serrated lip. A series of ridges across the lip are coloured brown and the inside of the aperture is dark pink in colour. These particular shells are used to produce te kawaruwaru. Holes would be bored through their sides where te kora (coconut sennit cordage) is threaded. This rattle would be used in the water for luring sharks.

Accession number: 1936.295 Last Update: 27 Jun 2019
Common Name

Adornment

Other Name

Shark rattle shell (English)

Accession Number

1936.295

Accession Date

1936

Other Id

24111.1 (ethnology)

154 (Maude Collection)

Department

Pacific

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Te kawaruwaru; 1936.295; 24111.1, 154; Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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