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taumi

On display
human history
taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply

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Images

  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • taumi, 1950.128, 31544, 372a, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • gorget

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

    Tahitian military leaders and leading warriors wore these breast ornaments in battle. As has been suggested by some writers, they may have acted as shields during close hand-to-hand combat. However, taumi were employed primarily to signal the aristocratic status of the wearer, and like other insignia of rank around the Pacific, could be taken as booty from the battlefield.

    Being prestige items, gorgets were presented as tribute to ruling ali’i, high chiefs, and were included among the gifts presented during ceremonial events such as investiture ceremonies. Early accounts suggest that the dogs’ hair and pearl shell incorporated into taumi may have been obtained through trade networks with the Tuamotu Archipelago.

  • Cultural Origin

    Tahitian/Society Islands

  • Collection
    Oldman
  • Primary Maker

     unknown

  • Place
    Tahiti/Society Islands/French Polynesia/Pacific
  • Date
    Unknown
  • Media

    dog/hair/animal material

    mother of pearl

    [fibre]

  • Measurement Description
    size of sinnet portion excluding hair, length 570mm, width 560mm
    381 x 419.1mm
  • Measurement Reading

    570mm

    560mm

  • Classification

    Ornament, Chest

    Body Adornment

    Ornament

    Personal Artefacts

  • Last Update
    24 Mar 2023
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