Description (Physical description)
O; Wauri o; Kaukau o. One of four shell pendants of ground Tridacna shell in triangular form, drilled for suspension, called "O" and worn only by married women. With fringe and string to tie round neck.
Event Date
Author: Diana Serediuc

Context (Field collection)
Collected by: Haddon, Dr A.C. in ? 1898; Ref. Plate: 64; Pl. XVI, figs 18 & 19
Event Date 3/11/1994
Author: maa

Context (Related Documents)
Card 1: '"O" Shell pendant.'
Card 2: '"O" triangular ornament of cone shell with fringe and string to tie round neck; B. narrower one, no string, 2 holes (24).'
Card 3: 'Four specimens ground Tridacna shell in triangular form, drilled for suspension. No Decoration.'
Has attachment of native string. Worn only by married women; Good.
Event Date 3/11/1994
Author: maa

Context (Amendments / updates)
At this point, there are a couple of possibilities for the mixed-up numbering but none is certain: If there were six shell pendants (4 for Z 7615 A-D and 2 for Z 7620 A-B) and two were not found; if there were four pendants and two of them were counted twice (Z 7615 A-B became Z 7620 A-B). It is also unclear when the mismatched shell pendants were discovered since the annotation of A-D for Z 7615 and A-B for Z 7620 on the aforementioned accession registrar was of a different handwriting, but neither dated nor signed.

The chemical marking on the pendants seem adding more confusion. What is now assigned with Z 7615 A was marked Z 7620 A and OH 1026 A, and current Z 7615 B was marked Z 7620 B and OH 1026 B. However, this is not the case for Z 7615 C and D. It is unclear when and how the decision was made to put these numbers on the pendants.

Another thing worth noticing is that the three small black and white documentation photos stapled on the catalogue cards show only four shell pendants. First photo show the front side of two pendants (A and B), with two number labels: Z 7615 and Z 7620. The second photo show the front side of another two (C and D) with one label Z 7615. The third photo show the back side of C and D and with the label Z 7615. These photos help matching the four shell pendants but do not offer solution to the confusion over numbering. No date was noted for these photos either.

It is suggested by Eve Haddow, the curator, that the current four shell pendants (matching with the photos) be assigned with Z 7615 A-D.
Event Date 23/7/2024
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu

Context (Amendments / updates)
Catalogue card for No. Z.7615 A-D includes the catalogue card for No. Z 7620 A,B.
Event Date 3/7/2024
Author: Diana Serediuc

Context (Related Documents)
In the accession registrar titled 'Accessions Z2' accession range 'Z 4237 - Z 11699' this object was noted down as 'Z 7620 A-B' and under the description column on the right page 'Z 7615' was written meaning that 'Z 7620' relates to 'Z 7615.'. However the record,' Z 7620 A-D' also appears under the same OH number '1026' assuming that 2 of the 4 shells have been counted twice.
Event Date 3/7/2024
Author: Diana Serediuc