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Te kaneati

human history
  • Other Name

    Fish hook of mother of pearl (English)

  • Description

    Te kaneati. Fish hook of mother of pearl. This is a composite trolling hook made from te bwaeo (mother of pearl shell), te rii (bone) and te nimwaerere (cordage of human hair and coconut sennit fibres). A large shank has been cut from the hinge part of te bwaeo. It is long and concave in form. The depth of the shell's hinge can be seen across two thirds of te rabatan te matau (shank). It is off-white in colour with some transparency and shimmer.

    One side of te rabatan te matau portrays a flat surface that curves inwards. Two patches of brown embellish the surface at both ends. One end has been tapered into a point where a small perforation has been drilled into the side. The opposite end of te rabatan te matau features a carved, winged node where te nimwaerere has been used to lash a lock of te ira n atu. Te ira atu shows some white strands and a few dark brown strands. In addition to this, tabon te matau (point) of te rii has been lashed to te rabatan te matau. Tabon te matau shows a wide base and is flat is depth. The base has been carved inwards where te nimwaerere has been used to lash into te rabatan te matau. Te rii shows some dark marks along the tabon te matau surface.

  • Place
    Beru/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati Onotoa/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati
  • Accession Number
    1936.295
  • Accession Date
    1936
  • Other Id

    23913.1 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

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