Title: Neck Ornament (Rei puta) from New Zealand
Description: Neck Ornament (Rei puta) from New Zealand, the pendant made from the tooth of a sperm whale (Physeter catodon) with two engraved blackened eyes on the tooth. A finely plaited flax cord and bird bone toggle attachment serves for hanging around the wearer’s neck.Thought to have been collected during Cook’s First Voyage (1768-71)
Published in Jessop, L. & Starkey, J. (1998) No Contemptible Workmanship: Material culture of the Pacific region represented in the Hancock Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne. Newcastle upon Tyne: Tyne & Wear Museums.
Originally in the Allan Museum & Galleries
Date:pre-1800
Author:
Dimensions:170mm long, 45mm wide, length of cord 450mm, length of toggle 75mm.
Collection: The Hancock Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne
Reference no: NEWHM: C765
Record no.:HancockC765o