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Terrapin

human history
  • Other Name

    Model terrapin (English)

  • Description

    Terrapin. Model. This is a carved model of a terrapin (they spend half their time in the water). It has been carved from a mid tone brown coloured wood material referred to as eme (Prionopids ferruginea; Miro). It has been carved as one entire component. It features four short stubs for legs (on which it stands), an oval shell for its back and a long sphere-like head at the front. Its shell segmentations have been engraved on the flattish 'shell'.

    The eyes have been defined by an inlay of a lighter type of wood material that has been inserted. The belly of the turpin shows the engraved lettering of the maker: 'JOHN CHRISTIAN MBE PITCAIRN IS.' The Galapagos land tortoises were introduced to Pitcairn Islands in the late 1930s by European voyagers. Today only one turpin has survived out of a total of five originally introduced. The terrapin is a protected and cared for species on Pitcairn Island.

  • Place
    Pitcairn Island/Polynesia/Pacific
  • Accession Number
    1980.31
  • Accession Date
    08 May 1980
  • Other Id

    48770 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

turtle, carved, 1980.31, 48770, Cultural Permissions Apply

Images and documents

Images

  • turtle, carved, 1980.31, 48770, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • turtle, carved, 1980.31, 48770, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • turtle, carved, 1980.31, 48770, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • turtle, carved, 1980.31, 48770, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • turtle, carved, 1980.31, 48770, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • turtle, carved, 1980.31, 48770, Cultural Permissions Apply

Artefact

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