Te katau te tumara

Te katau te tumara. Waist ornament of nautilus shells. This is worn by young women as part of their dance attire. This is made up of three components; te tumara (nautilus shells), dried baa ni kaina (pandanus leaves) and te kora (sennit cordage). Baa ni kaina is plaited together and employed to form the base of te katau. Off-white te tumara, numbered in thirty-nine, are perforated and lashed on baa ni kaina using te kora. An extension of te kora exceeds both ends of the decorative katau and knotted. This extension is used for tying purposes. The baa ni kaina is broken in several parts, held intact by the lashing of te kora.

Other Name

Waist ornament of nautilus shells (English)

Place

Nonouti/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati

Accession Number

1940.3

Accession Date

1940

Other Id

25214.2 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific