- Reimiro
A "reimiro" is a decorative crescent-shaped pectoral ornament once worn by the women of
Easter Island . The name comes from the Rapanui "rei" 'stern ' or 'prow ' and "miro" 'boat'. Thus the crescent represents a Polynesian canoe.Each side of the "reimiro" ended in a human head. The outer, display side had two small pierced bumps through which a cord was strung for hanging it. The inner side contained a cavity that was filled with chalk made from powdered seashells.
A "reimiro" provides the image of the
Flag of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). It also appears to feature in the is preserved with a long rongorongo text.Although the human heads on the "reimiro" are unique to Easter Island, the pectoral itself is part of a wider tradition. In the
Solomon Islands , for example, women wear shell pectorals which resemble "reimiro."Gallery
External links
* [http://www.iub.edu/~iuam/online_modules/wielgus/polynesia/polynesia39.html A "reimiro" at the Indiana University Art Museum]
References
* Chauvet, Stéphen-Charles. 1935. "L'île de Pâques et ses mystères" ("Easter Island and its Mysteries"). Paris: Éditions Tel. (An online English version translated by Ann Altman and edited by Shawn McLaughlin is available [http://www.chauvet-translation.com/index.htm www.chauvet-translation.com here] .)
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