$4,781.25
In stock
North Pacific, Hawaiian Islands, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. An incredibly rare and important dance ornament known as a kupe’e niho ‘ilio, featuring 66 canine teeth from dogs, expertly drilled from both sides to ensure durability when strung on the cotton cord. The cord is knotted at each tooth to hold them in place, and the teeth have a yellow patina from their age. The use of dogs as food was rejected by the European colonizers in the 19th century and their teeth became harder for Hawaiians to collect in enough quantities to create the hula dance rattles the teeth were primarily used for. While this could have been worn as a necklace, it is more likely this was worn around a leg as a rattle, and probably made in the first half of the 1800s, or even earlier! Professionally mounted and displayed on an acrylic stand. Size of mounted strand: 8″ L x 7″ W (20.3 cm x 17.8 cm); 9.8″ H (24.9 cm) on included custom stand; tooth (largest): 1.3″ L x 0.45″ W (3.3 cm x 1.1 cm)
For a similar example and additional information, please see the National Museum of Australia, inventory: Oz 222.
Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and may not be eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.
Condition: Chips and losses to the lips and roots of teeth. Patina throughout. Cord is intact. Professionally mounted on a display stand as shown. Not easily removable.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-old Kula-Maui, Hawaii, USA collection
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