condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Collections Online

Collections record

discuss document export feedback print share gallery-landscape xml

ornament, neck

On display
human history
  • Other Name

    Necklace of ivory ornaments

    Rei

  • Description

    necklace with fibre cord, wrapping of human hair. suspended at intervals are eight whaletooth ivory figures; includes three double spheres, pig with curled tail, rectangular shape. illustrated in 'Polynesian Artifacts' pl 21.

  • Place
    Rurutu/Austral Islands/French Polynesia/Pacific
  • Accession Number
    1950.128
  • Accession Date
    04 Jul 1950
  • Other Id

    31491 (ethnology)

    477 (Oldman Collection)

  • Department

    Pacific

  • Display Room

    Pacific Masterpieces

Neck ornament, Rei, 31491

Images and documents

Images

  • Neck ornament, Rei, 31491
  • Neck ornament, Rei, 31491
  • Neck ornament, Rei, 31491
  • Neck ornament, Rei, 31491
  • necklace
  • necklace
  • necklace
  • necklace
  • necklace

Artefact

  • Display location

    Pacific Masterpieces

  • Credit Line
    On loan from Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Gift of the New Zealand Government.
  • Public Access Text

    Though prestigious by the nature of the material from which they are made and hence reserved for those of chiefly status, necklaces of ivory and human hair are generally not uncommon in the islands of Polynesia. However, with its attached symbols of power rendered in ivory, this particular style of neck ornament is very rare.

    The carved symbols representing ‘chief’s seats’, ‘testicles’ and ‘pig’, by their connotations would apparently refer to the influence enjoyed by the wearer over power and fecundity.

  • Cultural Origin

    Austral Islands

  • Collection
    Oldman
  • Primary Maker

     unknown

  • Place
    Rurutu/Austral Islands/French Polynesia/Pacific
  • Date
    Unknown
  • Media

    fibre

    human hair/hair/animal material

    whale/sea mammal/mammal/tooth/bone

  • Measurement Description
    length 476.3mm
  • Measurement Reading

    476.25mm

  • Classification

    Ornament, Neck

    Body Adornment

    Ornament

    Personal Artefacts

  • Last Update
    24 Mar 2023
The development of the Auckland War Memorial Museum online collection is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

The gift of curiosity

With unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events, a Museum Membership is the gift that keeps on giving year-round.

SEE OPTIONS FROM $60

The gift of curiosity