item details
NameRei Niho Paraoa (sperm whale tooth pendant)
ProductionUnknown; maker/artist; Northland
Classificationpendants, pectorals
Materialstooth, ivory
DimensionsOverall: 16.94mm (width), 140mm (height), 53mm (length), 113g (weight)
Registration NumberME010947
Credit lineExchange from Otago Museum, date unknown
Overview
Rei puta are a prestigious form of personal adornment throughout the Pacific. Because sperm whales were not actively hunted in traditional Māori society, whale ivory and bone were sourced from beached whales. For this reason rei puta made from whale ivory remain relatively rare and are under-represented in museum collections in New Zealand and around the world.