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Rei niho paraoa – whale-tooth pendant

Rei niho paraoa – whale-tooth pendant
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About this item

Title
Rei niho paraoa – whale-tooth pendant
Content partner
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Collection
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Description

This large rei puta (neck pendant) is made from a sperm whale tooth, a rare and precious material in traditional Māori society. It has a stylised face engraved on the top and four holes drilled along its upper edge, for hanging around the neck. This rei puta, or one very like it, appears in Sydney Parkinson's portrait of the 'Head of a New Zealander', showing how the pendant was lashed to the flax neck cord.

Format
Image
Date created
4 March 2013
Contributing partner
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
URL
https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/41018/rei-niho-paraoa-whale-tooth-pendant

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