Ear Ornament or Pendant (Kuru)

Unknown

18th–early 19th century · Greenstone (nephrite) · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

This small, elongated oval greenstone ornament was worn variously suspended by a length of cordage from the pierced lobe of the ear or around the neck as a pendant by prominent Maori men and women. Greenstone (pounamu) was highly prized and ownership of such ornaments marked the wearer as a person of wealth and status. The ornament is thin and flat in cross section and made from translucent light green stone, polished by grinding with natural abrasives to a matte surface. There is a suspension hole at the upper end, created by drilling a separate, conically shaped hole into either side of the object so that the two holes met in the middle to fully pierce it.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th–early 19th century

Medium

Greenstone (nephrite)

Culture

Maori people

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Purchase, The Richman Family Foundation Gift, 2013