ID: 700001768 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700001768	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1

Mako (shark tooth ear pendant) (ear ornament; Unknown; 1800-1900; Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Wellington, Welling...; ME005186/4)

Note: This mako (shark's tooth ear pendant) has red sealing wax at the base. Worn as an adornment from the ear, mako were a highly valued and cherished items. The colour kura (red) is traditionally associated with sacredness and value. Many different adornments were stained with the red pigment kokowai, mixed with animal fat. However, this pigment is relatively unstable, especially on non-absorbent surfaces. So when Europeans introduced red sealing wax, its natural adhesive properties made it ideal for application to taonga (treasures) such as the mako and in the eyes of hei tiki (pendants in human form).

Titles:

Mako (shark tooth ear pendant) (preferred,C,U,RP,English-P,U,U)

Catalog Level: item

Work Types:

ear ornament (jewelry) [300211279] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name), Costume (hierarchy name), costume (mode of fashion), costume accessories, worn costume accessories, jewelry, <jewelry by location>, jewelry worn on the head)

Classifications:

jewelry / ornament (preferred)

Creation Date: 1800-1900

Creator Display:

Unknown [preferred,VP]

craftsman unknown (unknown cultural designation) [500125274]

Locations:

Current: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand) [500311561] Corporate Bodies (Corp. Body)

Repository Numbers: ME005186/4

Credit Line: Gift of Lady Kinsey and Mrs Moore, 1936

Creation: New Zealand [1000226] Oceania (continent), World (facet) (Geographic)

Display Materials: Shark tooth with red sealing wax

	tooth (material) [300011855]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by composition>, combination inorganic/organic material, combination inorganic/organic animal material, <bone and bone components materials>, bone (material), <bone by form as material>, <tooth and tooth components as materials>)

	sealing wax [300311202]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by composition>, organic material, wax, <wax by form or function>)

Dimensions: Overall: 46 (length) x 21 (width) x 17 (depth) mm

General Subject:

ornament (preferred)

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: decorative and utilitarian works

Sources and Contributors:
Mako (shark tooth ear pendant)	........ [VP,TePapa]
	........ Te Papa online (2000-) http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/ObjectDetails.aspx?oid=191234; accessed 17 August 2012
	........ Te Papa spreadsheet (2012)

Subject: ....... [VP,TePapa]

....................... Te Papa spreadsheet (2012)

Note:
English	..... [VP]
	..... Te Papa online (2000-) http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/ObjectDetails.aspx?oid=191234; accessed 17 August 2012