Imitation shark tooth earring made from whale bone. Shark teeth were prized adornments and often decorated with red sealing wax once contact with Pākeha was made.
RINGATOI/ARTIST: Bernard Makoare
HAPŪ: Te Uri o Hau, Ngāti Whātua, Te Waiariki, Te Kai Tutae, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi
SIZE: 30mm x 35mm x 5mm
RAUEMI/MATERIALS: Whale Bone
Imitation shark tooth earring made from whale bone. Shark teeth were prized adornments and often decorated with red sealing wax once contact with Pākeha was made.
RINGATOI/ARTIST: Bernard Makoare
HAPŪ: Te Uri o Hau, Ngāti Whātua, Te Waiariki, Te Kai Tutae, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi
SIZE: 30mm x 35mm x 5mm
RAUEMI/MATERIALS: Whale Bone
About this piece
Often materials other than actual shark teeth would be fashioned into imitation tooth adornments such as earrings. This earring is made from an off cut of sperm whale bone or paraoa and was too small to make into a regular pendant. Rather than discard the offcut as rubbish to throw away I modified the shape into an imitation shark earring.
