Ornament

Item number C164 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Data
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Description

A flat shell disc (kapkap) with a carved, thin, tortoise-shell disk attached over the shell and held in place by the string and tooth. Intricately pierced tortoise-shell placed over white shell. Tortoise-shell has the following concentric designs from the centre outward: cross-like; eight radiating delta-like shapes; thirteen clockwise pointing loops; and sixteen notched triangles.

History Of Use

Kapkaps were originally said to have been worn on the forehead by a warrior. Later they became a form of currency in inter-island trade. Worn by a chief according to the collector's catalogue.