Subject: ali'i chief

Culture: Hawaiian

Setting: unification of Hawaii, 1795-1810

Object: kūpeʻe bracelet

Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography > Pacific Islands Hall *

"Wrist ornaments, kupe'e palaoa ivory Hawaiian Islands ...

Fragments of whale tooth or ivory tusk were often carved into ovoid or elliptical ornaments.

These ornaments were pierced to accomodate [SIC] a cord for encircling the wrist.

The color was often enhanced artificially. These bracelets were popular throughout

the 19th century and were valued for color and grain as well as shape." ...

* Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography > Pacific Islands Hall

"Bracelet, kupe'e ho'a kala kala boars' tusks, fiber Hawaiian Islands ...

Bracelets fashioned from outwardly-curved boars' tusks drilled with two

holes and strung with native fiber were worn by those of high rank." ...