Loan (Exhibition)
Exhibition \'Pacific Divinities: Gods, Chiefs and Priests in Polynesia 1760-1850\', March 2006-May 2006.
Event Date
Author: maa

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Description (Physical description)
Breastplate of ivory and shell. Composite plates of irregular oval outline with serrated edges, formed of whale tooth ivory plaques and centres of pearl shell with ivory inlay. One unusually large with circular shell centre bearing an angular pendant device of ivory.

Event Date
Author: maa

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Exhibition (Maudslay Gallery)
EXH.2018.4 | Pacific Currents
Event Date
Author: Remke Velden

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Loan (Exhibition)
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, UEA, Norwich, October 15 2016- February 12 2017, Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific
Event Date
Author: maa

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Loan (Exhibition)
Polynésie, June 2008-Sept 2008
Event Date
Author: maa

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Context (CMS Context)
Note on catalogue card: "Doubtful pearl shell, safer to call it shell. F.J. Hayter."
Collected c 1875. E 1918.213.14 notes ' The Fiji catalogue reference cards have the following entries: " Extract from register 1918.213.1-74: Additions to the Gordon Collections presented by George A.H. Gordon and collected by his father Sir A.H. Gordon during his governorship of Fiji from September 1875 till January 1880. (Sir A.H.Gordon was Governor of Fiji from September 1875 till January 1880. F.J.H)." " Confirm Minutes of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society 18 October 1883, and Accessions Register." Collected by: Gordon.Sir.Arthur.Hamilton.
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa

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Description (Physical description)
Civavonovono. Large circular breastplate of Tanoa Visawaqa. It is composed of six sections of whale ivory around a central motif of a crescent-shaped piece of black-lipped oyster shell, a small triangular piece of turtle shell, and four geometrical pieces of whale ivory at the top.
Event Date 10/10/2012
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (CMS Context)
Illustrated in Pacific Encounter's exhibition catalogue with the following caption (2006: 252, cat. no. 238): 'This large composite breastplate (civavonovono) is of the kind which began to be made in the early decades of the nineteenth century by Tongan/Samoan canoe builders working in the service of Fijian Chiefs. The techniques of manufacture of breastplates and canoe hulls are similar, with binding on the inside invisible from the outside. Clunie (1983) has identified this as the breastplate worn by Tanoa Visawaqa, Vunivalu of Bau and father of Seru Cakobau,when he was sketched by Alfred Agate during the Wilkes expedition' s visit to Fiji in 1840 (see p. 37) Gordon most likely received it as a ' royal' gift from Cakobau'.
Event Date 10/10/2012
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (CMS Context)
Catalogue card 1 reads [stamped in black ink:] 'Z 2730 FIJI'. [typed:] 'Breastplate of ivory and shell.' [added by Hayter in pencil:] 'Doubtful pearl shell, safer to call it shell'. [added in pencil later:] '5.1.87 - Returned from Smithsonian Institution where item was on loan'. [typed:] 'A. H. Gordon circa 1875.' [in pencil in the bottom left corner:] '1/261'. [added in blue pen:] '1918 213 (14)'. [added in black ink:] '(Centenary Exhibition)'. [stamped in blue ink:] 'SHOW CASE NUMBER 1'. A small round red sticker pasted on the card and a large one pasted in the top right corner.
Catalogue card 2 reads [handwritten in black ink:] 'Z-2730 Breastplate of ivory + shell.' [added in pencil by Hayter:] 'Doubtful pearl shell, safer to call it shell. JJH'. [in black ink:] 'A. H. Gordon. Circa 1875'. [added in blue pen:] '2nd Lord Stanmore'. [in pencil in the bottom left corner:] '1/261'. [in black ink:] 'Show case Number 1.'
Catalogue card 3 reads [handwritten in black pen:] 'Z 2730 Fiji. Breast ornament. See 1918.213.14'.
Catalogue card 4 reads [handwritten in blue pen:] '1918.213 (14-16). FIJI. 3 breast ornaments: composite plates of irregular oval outline with serrated edges, formed of whale-tooth ivory plaques + centres of pearl-shell with ivory inlay. One unusually large (10" x 10.8") with circular shell centre bearing an angular pendant device of [back of the card:] ivory; one (7".8 x &".8) with square centre inlaid with a pair of crossed ivory fillets forming a St. Andrew's cross, + 4 roundlets; + one (6".5 x &".8) with oblong centre, bearing a single 4-rayed star. 14 = Z 2730. 15 = Z 2733. 16 - Z 2735. [front of the card:] G. A. M. Hamilton-Gordon 2nd Baron Stanmore. (See 1st card).
Event Date 10/10/2012
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Description (Physical description)
Large circular breastplate composed of six sections of whale ivory creating a circular frame around a central motif formed of a crescent-shaped piece of black-lipped oyster shell, a small triangular piece of turtle shell, and four geometrical pieces of whale ivory at the top (a large trapezoidal piece, a very small triangle, a large rectangle and a smaller rectangle). The right hand side of the pearl shell piece is heavily chipped. Along the outer edge, the width of the breastplate is serrated. At the top of the breastplate, two holes are used to secure two lengths of 3-ply plaited hibiscus fibre, tied together with a knot. The edges of the shell piece are pierced with very small holes and attached to small holes pierced in the width of the whale ivory at the back. European string, metal threads and lengths of old conservation mesh seem to be keeping the various elements of the breastplate in place. At the front, the whale ivory is of a light cream colour while at the back, it has a dark honey shade.
Event Date 10/10/2012
Author: maa

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Context (CMS Context)
This object was brought out of the stores for the visit of the Prime Minister of Fiji, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, and the Fijian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Solo Mara on 26 November 2012.
Event Date 31/1/2013
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (CMS Context)
This object was brought out of the stores for the visit of the President of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, and the Fijian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Solo Mara on 28 July 2012.
Event Date 31/1/2013
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (CMS Context)
Labels & inscriptions: '1918.213.14' inscribed in pencil at the back, on the shell. At the front, '1918.213.14.', 'G.45' and 'Z. 2730' inscribed in black ink on the whale ivory on the right hand side of the object.
Event Date 31/1/2013
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (Display)
Exhibited: 'Chiefs & Governors: Art and power in Fiji', Cambridge MAA, 7 June 2013 - 19 April 2014.
Event Date 7/6/2013
Author: Remke van der Velden

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Conservation (Assessment Only)
CON.2015.1978 | Assessment Only
Event Date 28/8/2015
Author: rah99

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Conservation ()
CON.2013.71 |
Event Date 1/3/2016
Author: maa

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Loan (Exhibition)
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 15/12/2019 to 19/07/2020, Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific
Event Date 15/12/2019
Author: Katrina Dring

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Loan (Exhibition)
Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachussetts, 12/09/2020 to 03/01/2021, Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific
Event Date 12/9/2020
Author: Katrina Dring