Ornament | buni
vor 1900
About the object
This piece of jewellery, worn either on the neck or chest by a chieftain (buni) is artfully carved from a sperm whale. The string is composed of a black and white braid. There is a row of small, white mussel discs suspended between the string and tooth. The manufacture of such a piece was very time-consuming and labour-intensive enterprise, rendering the object a very valuable item as a result.