Nose Ornament
67-5-85
From: Solomon Islands | Santa Ana, Solomon Islands
Curatorial Section: Oceanian
Object Number | 67-5-85 |
Current Location | Collections Storage |
Provenience | Solomon Islands | Santa Ana, Solomon Islands |
Section | Oceanian |
Materials | Shell |
Description | Of tridacna shell. This is the elegant form and suitable for a man of great prestige only, hence called tamono ni arafa or tamono ni mwana rafa "tamono of a big man". This specimen was never finished because man for whom it was being made died. Were it finished it would have a slit through to center hole where it would fasten to nasal septum. Broken parts were deliberately destroyed as part of mourning. It was kept as a memento of the man, Terikito who was grand or great-grandmother's brother to Nimamima of Gupuna who gave the specimen. |
Length | 5.9 cm |
Width | 5 cm |
Credit Line | William Kohler Expedition; William H. Davenport, 1967 |
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