- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Shell necklace given to people when they go on long journeys or between islands, with a basketry pendant embroidered with the I-Kiribati word 'Mauri' (meaning 'hello' - or more literally 'health'). [JP 17/6/2004]
- Long description
- The string of the necklace is composed of two rows of cowrie shells, each row consisting of cowrie shells laid end to end and threaded together with white cotton. Threaded between each of the shells is a small brown seed. The two rows are then threaded together with the flat undersides of the cowrie shells facing each other. At either end of the string of shells is a six-petalled flower shape made from 6 cowrie shells secured to a small basketry centre of pink string. Each of these 'flowers' is attached to the top of the pendant. The pendant consists of a round of plain weave basketry of palm leaf strips which is edged all around with cowrie shells secured to the woven round with pink string. Both the front and back of the pendant are embroidered. On the front is a bird embroidered in outline in black thread, below that 'MAURI' in purple thread, below that a fragment of a sun with upwards pointing rays in red thread, below that 'KIRIBATI' in purple, and below that three horizontal lines in pale blue thread, representing the sea. On the reverse in purple thread is 'PEARL SHELL BUTARITARI'. [JP 17/6/2004]
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1999
- Date collected
- 31 December 1999 / 1 January 2000
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 2004
- Materials and processes
- Material Cowrie Shell, Material Plant Seed, Material Cotton Seed Fibre Yarn Plant, Material String, Material Palm Leaf Plant, Process Woven, Process Strung, Process Stitched, Process Embroidered
- Dimensions
- Diameter 73 mm pendant, Length: max 395 mm excl. pendant
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 2004.56.14
Search terms: Ornament, Neck Ornament
Further items to explore
2003.89.2Necklace consisting of a 16mm wide base of woven straw, strengthened by a narrower length of plaited straw sewn on to it, trimmed with small shells. [JP 17/5/2004]2003.89.2
2003.124.2Amulet for wearing around the neck by pregnant women for luck and protection against the evil eye: Synthetic black cord with pendant comprising a small metal bar. [JP 26/5/2004]2003.124.2
1899.72.21Neck ornament: pendant consisting of 2 strings of shell disc beads, strung together with pieces of wood, and each terminating in a large dark brown seed capsule.1899.72.21
1884.74.28Neck ornament; pieces of bone cut to represent teeth strung on a leather thong. [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 30/11/2005]1884.74.28
1899.62.465Tri-point shark-tooth edged weapon. Sword is formed of one longer central piece of wood and two shorter curved pieces of wood forming three prongs. [AF [OPS Move] 19/6/2017]1899.62.465
1926.64.1.1Model of a canoe made from wood tied and stitched together with coconut fibre cord. [SM (Verve) 18/02/2013]1926.64.1.1
1900.55.650.2Jacket from a coconut fibre suit of armour. [BH [OPS move] 4/9/2017]1900.55.650.2
1884.31.35.2Set of trousers from a suit of coconut fibre netted in large close knots. Part of a set which includes jacket [1884.31.35 .1]. [MOBB [OPS move] 4/9/2017]1884.31.35.2