Te rii n kua kewe

Te rii n kua kewe. Porpoise bone. This is the vertebrae of a porpoise. Its centre is circular and cylindrical with a cavity between the three winged points. Its is hard in material with some areas showing the porous texture of the bone. Its entirety is off-white in colour with some grey areas amongst the crevices. There are a variety of ways in which te rii n kua kewe can be compartmentalized. The winged points can be used to produce spoons, its centre can be carved into a disc for a pump drill or it can be used as a plinth to place magic upon otherwise referred to as te ati ni katoka for magic in regards to rouia (a type of i-kiribati dance).

Ingoa Kē

Porpoise bone (English)

Wāhi

Beru/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati

Accession Number

1936.295

Rā Tāpiringa

1936

Tohu Tuakiri Kē

22896 (ethnology)

131 (Maude Collection)

Wāhanga

Pacific