Ear pendant of a shark's tooth, the base covered with red wax, with a black ribbon threaded through a perforation. [El.B DDF Body Arts Project 2010/2011 19/11/2010]

Collection type: Object
Description: Ear pendant of a shark's tooth, the base covered with red wax, with a black ribbon threaded through a perforation. [El.B DDF Body Arts Project 2010/2011 19/11/2010]
Geographical reference: New Zealand
Oceania > Australia and New Zealand > New Zealand; North Island
Cultural groups: Māori
Person: Field collector Charles Smith; PRM source The Executors of the Charles Smith Estate; PRM source Alfred T. Collier
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1869?, uncertain
Date collected: 1860 - 1869?
Acquisition information: Purchased: 1923
Materials and processes: Material Shark Tooth Fish, Material Lac Insect Lacquer Varnish, Material Ribbon Textile, Process Perforated, Process Woven
Dimensions: Length: max 95 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1923.87.222
Research and responses: According to Hamilton ('Maori Art', Wellington: The New Zealand Institute, 1896, p. 304), it is red sealing wax that is used to ornament the base of mako (shark teeth) ear pendants. [CF 15/3/2001]
The Maori word 'mako' can mean both 'shark' and 'shark's tooth'. Derived from this word is the common name of the Mako shark, Isurus oxyrinchus. See Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved November 18, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mako [El.B DDF Body Arts Project 2010/2011 18/11/2010]
This object was studied by Mechelle Horwood, Victoria University of Wellington, on 29 October 2013. She noted the red substance on the tooth was sealing wax. [MJD 29/10/2013]
This ornament was studied by a group from Nga Paerangi, from Pa Kaiwaiki, Whanganui in November 2013. They noted that the red substance might be korowai (red earth). [MJD 09/12/2013]

Search terms: Ornament, Status, Ear Ornament