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Te mwae ni wi n aomata

human history
  • Ingoa Kē

    Neck ornament of human teeth (English)

  • Kupu whakaahua

    Te mwae ni wi n aomata. Neck ornament of human teeth. This is made of four material components: te kora (coconut sennit fibre cordage), wi n aomata (human teeth), te nana (coconut shell) and te nouo (cone shell; conus). The series of wi n aomata range in type defining the area of the human jaw it was obtained from. A small perforation has been drilled into the root end of each tooth pendant where a two-ply kora has been threaded through.

    The wi n aomata range in off-white colour, many showing darkened areas and some even featuring a hollow opening near the root end. One half of the neck ornament near the fastened end shows where two small dark brown discs of te nana have been used to thread between each wi n aomata. In contrast to this the other half uses two small off-white discs of te nouo between each wi n aomata. The end have been fastened into a knot. These types of te mwae (Neck ornaments) can symbolise the victory of a battle, often obtaining the teeth of their opponent. In contrast to this, the teeth could also be obtained from ones ancestors to keep them close by.

  • Wāhi
  • Accession Number
    1936.295
  • Rā Tāpiringa
    1936
  • Tohu Tuakiri Kē

    24014 (ethnology)

    222 (Maude Collection)

  • Wāhanga
Te mwae ni wi n aomata; 1936.295; 24014, 222; Cultural… … Read more

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