Context (CMS Context)
(Bio) From the collection of Dr. William Halse Rivers Rivers.
Event Date 29/1/2008
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Chest ornament of black pearl, broken. [Added later] ‘Designs of birds.’
Event Date 29/1/2008
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Black Pearl shell pendant with a fretwork design. The pearlescent side of the pendant is concave, following the natural curve of the shell. The top section terminates in a Janus bird head, which has broken away from the pendant. The central section is formed from two horizontal bands, which terminate at either end in the head of a frigate bird holding a bonito between its beak. Each bird has an incised eye. The bands enclose a fretwork design that is symmetrical in both horizontal and vertical dimensions; a central ring motif with a pair of frigate bird wings reflected either side, is followed by two reflected bonito. One bonito is decorated with an incised crosshatched design. A sheared section at the base indicates that the pendant was originally cross-shaped but the bottom piece is now missing. The natural black shell on the reverse of the pendant has been smoothed revealing some pearlescence. [Heather Donoghue 06.06.2012]
Event Date 29/5/2013
Author: maa

Context (CMS Context)
Catalogue card reads [handwritten in black ink:] 'Z 298. Chest ornament of black pearl broken Rivers' Colln.'; [later addition handwritten in black ball point:] 'Designs of birds. L. 12 cm. W. 8 cm'; [handwritten in pencil:] '?'; [typed in black ink:] 'Solomons.'; [typed in red ink:] 'Lent to the Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1935.' [Red circular sticker top right of catalogue card.]
Event Date 9/6/2013
Author: Heather Donoghue

Context (CMS Context)
Labels & inscriptions: ‘Z.298’ inscribed in white ink on one side of the object.
Event Date 12/2/2016
Author: Lucie Carreau