Lei Niho Palaoa (whale tooth and human hair necklace)
Date19th century
GeographyHawaiʻi
MediumHair, ivory, braid, carved ivory
Dimensions43.2 × 24.1 cm (17 × 9 1/2 in.)
ClassificationsJewelry & Personal Accessories
Credit LineGift of Anna Rice Cooke, 1927 (2088)
Object number2088
DescriptionHair neck ornament woven in square strand. Finely braided black human hair (about 350 strands); fastened at back of neck with white cord; decorated at center front with whale ivory pendant carved in fishhook shape - highly polished and yellow with age. Such ornaments worn by Chiefs and ChieftessOn View
On view
19th - early 20th century
early 20th century
c. 1770
early 19th c.
early 20th century
