Shark teeth were prized adornments and often decorated with red sealing wax once contact with Pakeha was made.
RINGATOI/ARTIST: Bernard Makoare
HAPŪ: Te Uri o Hau, Ngāti Whātua, Te Waiariki, Te Kai Tutae, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi
SIZE: 30mm x 30mm x 5mm
RAUEMI/MATERIALS: Whale Bone
Shark teeth were prized adornments and often decorated with red sealing wax once contact with Pakeha was made.
RINGATOI/ARTIST: Bernard Makoare
HAPŪ: Te Uri o Hau, Ngāti Whātua, Te Waiariki, Te Kai Tutae, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi
SIZE: 30mm x 30mm x 5mm
RAUEMI/MATERIALS: Whale Bone
About this piece
Often materials other than actual shark teeth would be fashioned into imitation tooth adornment 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 then to discard the off cut as rubbish to throw away I modified the shape into an imitation shark earring.
