Te kataba

Te kataba. Dance ornament. This is made of te bure (egg cowrie shell; Amphiperas ovum) and te ira n atu (human hair cord). This ornament consists of four bure that are similar in size. They are bulbous in form with a plain off-white exterior that is smooth across the surface. Small circular perforations have been drilled through the centre over the lip. The interior of their aperture are a pale orange in colour. Two bure shells have been attached to each end of te ira n atu. It would be worn over the neck and the bure shells would hang at either side of the dancer positioned just above their chest. Te kataba can be worn by either sex. Te bure is considered a significant and precious shell in i-kiribati.

Ingoa Kē

Dance ornament (English)

Wāhi

Nonouti/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati

Accession Number

1940.3

Rā Tāpiringa

1940

Tohu Tuakiri Kē

25128 (ethnology)

Wāhanga

Pacific