A lei niho palaoa is a Hawaiian neck ornament traditionally worn by aliʻi (chiefs) of both sexes. The 19th century examples are most commonly made of a whale tooth carved into a hook-shape suspended by plaited human hair.
The symbolism is not known; it may represent a tongue that speaks the law, or may represent a vessel for mana (inherited virtue).[1] Precontact lei niho palaoa were less than two inches in length, and were not only made of whale ivory, but also of shell, bone, wood, stone, and coral.[2] Sometimes, several of these smaller pendants were strung on twisted human hair.[3] The Bishop Museum has a lei niho palaoa with a hair bundle having a circumference of 7.5 inches. It is made from a single eight-ply square braid cord, measuring 1,708 feet, looped back and forth over 1000 times on each side.[4]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lei niho palaoa.
^Kaeppler, Adrienne L., Polynesia, The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection of Polynesian Art, University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, 2010, p. 371
^Buck, Peter H., Arts and Crafts of Hawaii, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, 1957, p. 537
January 01, 1970
niho, palaoa, niho, palaoa, hawaiian, neck, ornament, traditionally, worn, aliʻi, chiefs, both, sexes, 19th, century, examples, most, commonly, made, whale, tooth, carved, into, hook, shape, suspended, plaited, human, hair, 19th, century, niho, palaoa, honolul. A lei niho palaoa is a Hawaiian neck ornament traditionally worn by aliʻi chiefs of both sexes The 19th century examples are most commonly made of a whale tooth carved into a hook shape suspended by plaited human hair 19th century lei niho palaoa in the Honolulu Museum of Art The symbolism is not known it may represent a tongue that speaks the law or may represent a vessel for mana inherited virtue 1 Precontact lei niho palaoa were less than two inches in length and were not only made of whale ivory but also of shell bone wood stone and coral 2 Sometimes several of these smaller pendants were strung on twisted human hair 3 The Bishop Museum has a lei niho palaoa with a hair bundle having a circumference of 7 5 inches It is made from a single eight ply square braid cord measuring 1 708 feet looped back and forth over 1000 times on each side 4 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lei niho palaoa Footnotes edit Metropolitan Museum of Art New Guinea Tribal Art Kaeppler Adrienne L Polynesia The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection of Polynesian Art University of Hawaii Press Honolulu 2010 p 371 Buck Peter H Arts and Crafts of Hawaii Bishop Museum Press Honolulu 1957 p 537 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lei niho palaoa amp oldid 1152078403, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
