Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads [handwritten in black ink:] 'Z 761.a-c. Rotuma. Three beads made of whales' teeth - very valuable - only worn by chiefs. Cf. J.A.I. vol 27, p.412. c&d Prof. Stanley Gardiner 1914'. A small round red sticker pasted to the front of the card.
Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Production / use)
Gardiner (1898), p.412: 'Necklets of beads made out of whale's teeth were exceedingly valuable and only allowed to be worn by chiefs; the beads were sometimes round, but more often oval, with the ends somewhat flattened (Plate XXV, Figs. 2, 3, 4). They were generally buried with their possessor as constituting one of his most valuable possessions. [...] These whale's-tooth beads were the money of the old days, and were termed lei, while the name of any necklace is tifui; hence these necklaces were termed tifui lei.'
Event Date 1898
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (References)
Gardiner, J. Stanley. 1898. The Natives of Rotuma. JRAI 27, pp. 412, illustration pl. XXV, Fig. 4.
Event Date 1898
Author: Lucie Carreau

Description (Physical description)
One of three beads made of cachalot whales' teeth [Z 761 A-C].
Event Date 6/2/2014
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Bead made of whale's tooth.
Event Date 25/1/2021
Author: Lucie Carreau