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Te mwae

human history
  • Other Name

    Neck ornament (English)

  • Description

    Te mwae. Neck ornament. It is worn around the neck as part of body adornment. This is primarily worn by women and young girls, particularly for the ruoia dances. This mwae is made of a single string of alternating brown te nana (coconut shell) discs and off-white shell discs (which are fewer than te nana discs). These are strung on a kora (cordage of coconut fibre) and knotted together to form the body of te mwae. The knot has four short strings of loose ends.

  • Place
    Nonouti/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati
  • Accession Number
    1940.3
  • Accession Date
    1940
  • Other Id

    25122.1 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

Te mwae; 1940.3; 25122.1; Cultural Permissions Apply

Images and documents

Images

  • Te mwae; 1940.3; 25122.1; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te mwae; 1940.3; 25122.1; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te mwae; 1940.3; 25122.1; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te mwae; 1940.3; 25122.1; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te mwae; 1940.3; 25122.1; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Ornament

Artefact

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