Context (Display)
Exhibited in 'The Proper Study of Mankind: Great Anthropological Collections in Cambridge' (known at MAA as the 'Centenary Exhibition') at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, 12 March - 06 May 1984.
Event Date 12/3/1984
Author: Lucie Carreau

Description (CMS Description)
Breastplate of pearl shell.
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa

Context (CMS Context)
Notes on catalogue card: "Rarely seen in use."; "Label AVICULA, MARGATITE FERA, illegible."; "No clue as to what it is intended to convey-place, poison, thing etc. K. Roth spells it Thiva."
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Breastplate formed of one large valve of ?gold-lip oyster shell (Pinctada maxima?), pierced on each side at the top and provided with two length of ?4-ply plaited natural and black pandanus fibre. The front of the shell is very polished and iridescent. The right hand side of the shell is lightly chipped. The pandanus cord is very brittle and stiff. 'Z. 2724' inscribed in black ink inside the shell. A small rectangular cream label is pasted inside the shell and reads [handwritten in brown ink:] 'AVICULA (Margaritifera?)' and [added later:] 'Reeve'. '1884.G44.' inscribed in black ink at the front of the object.
Event Date 17/10/2012
Author: maa

Context (CMS Context)
Catalogue card 1 reads [stamped in black ink:] 'Z 2724 FIJI'. [typed:] 'Breast plate of pearl shell. ("Ciwa.) Thiwa. "Rarely seen in use". A. H. Gordon circa 1875.' [added in pencil:] 'Label AVIGULA, MARGARITEFERA, illegible. No clue as to what it is intended to convey - place, person, thing. G. K. Roth spells it Thiva [Hayter's signature]. [in pencil in the bottom left corner:] '1/259'. [added in black ink:] '(Centenary Exhibition)'. [stamped in blue ink:] 'SHOW CASE NUMBER 1'. A small red round sticker pasted on the card. At the back of the card [handwritten in blue pen:] '1.6.89 Avigula - name of type of shell.'
Catalogue card 2 reads [handwritten in black ink:] 'Z 2724 Breastplate of pearl shell ("ciwa") Thiwa [added in pencil: 'THIVA']. "Rarely seen in use." Show Case number 1.' [added in pencil:] 'Label AVIGULA, MARGARITE FERA illegible. No clue as to what it is intended to convey - place, person, thing, etc. K. Roth spells it THIVA.' [in blue pen:] 'C & D SIR ARTHUR GORDON'. [in pencil in the bottom left corner:] '1/259'.
Event Date 17/10/2012
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (CMS Context)
Exhibited: 'Chiefs & Governors: Art and power in Fiji', Cambridge MAA, 7 June 2013 - 19 April 2014.
Event Date 25/4/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden

Conservation ()
CON.2013.39 |
Event Date 1/3/2016
Author: maa