Object

Accession No

Z 7614

Description

Sabagorar. Pendant of shaped turtleshell in form of double hook, decorated with incised design of lines and chevrons. Worn by brides and married women only.

Place

Oceania; Australasia; ?Melanesia; ?New Guinea; Australia; Queensland; Torres Strait; ?Mer

Period

19th century

Source

?Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr) [field collector and donor]

Department

Anth

Reference Numbers

Z 7614; OH 1022

Cultural Affliation

Material

Shell; Turtle Shell

Local Term

Sabagorar

Measurements

108mm x 5mm x 145mm

Events

Context (Related Documents)
Two catalogue cards attributed to Z 7614 read as follow:
Card 1, handwritten in black ink, reads, 'Sabagorar / Large double hook decorated in one plane. / turtleshell-'.
Card 2: 'Shaped turtleshell in form of double hook, decorated with incised design of lines and chevrons.' Also, 'Worn by brides and married women only'.
Both without authoring date.
Event Date
Author: maa

Description (Labels & Markings)
Old attached handwritten paper label notes 'New Guinea/ 1887'.
Event Date 1887
Author: rachel hand

Context (Field collection)
Collected by Dr Alfred Cort Haddon, possibly in 1889 or 1887.
Event Date 1889
Author: rachel hand

Context (References)
Haddon, A.C. et al (1908) 'Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits: Vol. 6. Sociology, Magic and Religion of the Eastern Islanders'. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 114, pl. 16, fig. 9
Event Date 1908
Author: maa

Context (References)
Haddon, A.C. et al (1912) 'Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits: Vol. 4, Arts and Crafts'. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 48-49, pl. 11, fig.9
Event Date 1912
Author: rachel hand

Context (References)
Cf. 89+38 [British Museum], pl 46 David Moore (1984) The Torres Strait Collections of A. C. Haddon. British Museum, London, 71, no. 317, pl. 36, which notes 'Pendant, double fish-hook, turtle-shell. Sabagorar. Shape cut out of turtle-shell in form of a double fish-hook. Incised chevron decoration. Formed part of pendants worn by brides and married women'. Mer 1889.

Cf. Z 7614 (Mer, possibly 1898) Marked new Guinea 1887; Z 9775 A-C (Mer, 1898. Plus 2 points (luper) on plaited cord' Z 9786 (Mer, possibly 1898).

Cf. [British Museum] 89+37 (Mer, 1889. Points joined to shank; 89+39 (Mer, 1889; 89+253 (Mer, 1889)
Event Date 1984
Author: rachel hand

Description (Physical description)
Sabagorar. Pendant of shaped turtleshell in form of double hook, decorated on one side with incised design of lines and chevrons.
Event Date 4/8/2023
Author: rachel hand

FM:79647