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tema

human history
  • Other Name

    ornament (English)

  • Description

    breast ornament of clam shell, turtle shell and fibre cord;

  • Place
    Santa Cruz Islands/Solomon Islands
  • Accession Number
    1932.237
  • Accession Date
    1932
  • Other Id

    18131 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

tema, 18131, Cultural Permissions Apply

Images and documents

Images

  • tema, 18131, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • tema, 18131, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • tema, 18131, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • tema, 18131, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • tema, 18131, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • tema, 18131, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • tema, 18131, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • tema, 18131, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • breast pendant

Artefact

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, 1932.237, 18131
  • Public Access Text

    Important men wear white clam shell tema discs on their chest for ceremonies and formerly also for fighting. Nowadays, tema are worn along with a full set of other shell and feather ornaments by young men in the nelo dance which celebrates their attaining of maturity. Interpretations vary as to what is depicted by the turtle shell overlay but most see it as a frigate bird sometimes with abstract fish or dolphins above.

    Archaeological excavations in the Santa Cruz area have demonstrated that the large Tridacna discs have been made there for almost 3000 years.

  • Cultural Origin

    Santa Cruz Islands/Solomon Islander

  • Primary Maker

     unknown

  • Place
    Santa Cruz Islands/Solomon Islands
  • Date
    Unknown
  • Media

    tortoise shell/animal material

    clam shell/seashell/shell

  • Measurement Description
    diameter 130mm
  • Measurement Reading

    130mm

  • Classification

    Ornament, Chest

    Body Adornment

    Ornament

    Personal Artefacts

  • Media/Materials Notes

    overlay

  • Last Update
    08 Nov 2018
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.

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