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Headband

World

D65.1103

Beaded woman's circlet headband

Headband

World

D65.1104

Beaded woman's circlet headband

The canine teeth of the Clouded leopard, native to Sarawak, were highly prized by the Iban., They were often fashioned into men’s ear ornaments such as this beaded ear ornament. The skins of the Clouded leopard were used as ceremonial coats and seating mats. Today, the Clouded leopard is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as its numbers have declined due to hunting and illegal poaching.

Flute, Koauau

Taoka Puoro

O50.013

Complete wooden koauau. Round in cross section, polished patina from handling. Exterior surface carved with rauru (double spirals) and a human figure protruding off one side. Human figure has rauru on shoulders and thighs. Feet rest on a wheku style head. Light green glass or stone inlay in eyes, at base of foot, and between two of the finger holes. A rectangular-shaped indentation filled with red sealing wax indicates there may have been another inlay. Four fingers holes in total.

Bottle

Antiquities

E35.135

Flake

Taoka Māori

D79.6662

Opalite flake.

Bead, Trade

Taoka Māori

D82.1071

Complete string of 68 glass trade beads, strung together on a thick piece of cotton string. There is a pattern of one large mid blue bead with two smaller dark blue beads that repeats on both sides till the centre where the pattern changes and becomes two large dark blue beads followed by two large mid blue beads.

Scabbard

World

D05.51

Bead, Trade

Taoka Māori

D90.27

Complete loop of 21 glass trade beads of varying colours and sizes, but all small. There is one yellow bead, five mid red beads, four dark blue beads, two mid green beads, two mid blue beads, four light blue beads, one dark green bead, and two white beads.