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'Ula tupe

human history
  • Other Name

    Ula tupe (Samoan)

    Necklace of St. Thomas bean seeds (English)

  • Description

    'Ula tupe. Necklace of St. Thomas bean seeds. This 'ula (necklace) is made from the seeds of the tupe tree (St. Thomas bean). The tupe seeds are shaped like small thin coins. When money was introduced to Samoa it was named Tupe due to its similarity in size and shape to the tupe seeds. The 'ula is made up of fifty one tupe that have been painted with black oil-based paint.

    A length of clear nylon string has been threaded through two tiny holes in the seeds to create the 'ula. Without a fastening mechanism the nylon string has simply been tied in a few knots to keep the 'ula together. 'Ula were made to be worn at festive occasions or offered as gifts of welcome or farewell to friends and family.

  • Place
    Samoa/Pacific
  • Accession Number
    2015.22.17
  • Accession Date
    07 Apr 2015
  • Other Id

    56758.17 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

neck ornament; ula tupe; 2015.22.17

Images and documents

Images

  • neck ornament; ula tupe; 2015.22.17
  • neck ornament; ula tupe; 2015.22.17
  • neck ornament; ula tupe; 2015.22.17
  • neck ornament; ula tupe; 2015.22.17

Artefact

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