Civa Vonovono (Breastplate)

Civa Vonovono. Breast ornament. The Civa Vonovono is constructed from composite materials. A large semi-circular piece of dark coloured civa (mother of pearl) is centred with holes drilled around its perimeter onto which four curved and off-white coloured pieces of sui ni tovuto (whalebone ivory) are bordered and attached in a manner similar to sewing with fibre attaching the pieces together. At centre of the civa is inlaid a four-pointed kalokalo (star) and three small triangles all made of sui ni tovuto. A braided wa ni magimagi (cor of coconut sennit) is attached to the civa vonovono, and two small holes drilled to its the upper area each with a copper ring for the wa ni magimagi to attach to.