Taona n riri te takanea

Taona n riri. Used as adornment for dance costumes, this ornamental belt features perforated takanea (ovum shells) strung onto a cord of te kora (coconut sennit) then incorporated into a thickly woven belt of baa ni kaina (pandanus leaves). It is tied around the waist of a female dance performer, atop the riri, or dance skirt. All such decorative waist ornaments are collectively termed taona n riri. The takanea are white in colour with a slight orange tinge in their interior and have an overall glossy sheen. They are arranged in a row along the length of the taona n riri. Several of the takanea have additional perforations in the surface. Two ties of natural baa ni kaina are incorporated to the ends.

Other Name

Waist ornament of cowrie shells (English)

Place

Beru/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati

Accession Number

1940.3

Accession Date

1940

Other Id

25176 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific