Rare and beautiful head ornament, pèue èi, pèue koiò. This type of ornament bears witness to the perpetual contribution and exchanges that exist in art and history. These crowns worn by the women are indeed perfect half-breed objects that imply the fabulous know-how and extraordinary artistic creativity of the Marquesas Islands by integrating glass beads imported by the West. Before the arrival of the Westerners, Ralph Linton reported that there were small fish vertebrae on a pèue èi instead of beads. Made of approximately 1,200 to 1,500 dolphin (or porpoise) teeth that were drilled, then threaded and mounted with the beads on a braid of coconut husk characteristic of Marquesas Island art and by a superbly sophisticated fastening system; creating loops between the top and bottom of the crown allowing it to maintain a beautiful homogeneity. The crown was attached with a white tapa tie that was tied through the loops. See for a comparable example in the collections of the Musée du Quai Branly (inv 71.1963.22.9) and reproduced in Mata Hoata- Arts et Société Aux Îles Marquises Ed. Musée du Quai Branly Actes Sud, 2016. Marquesas Islands Dolphin or porpoise teeth, braided coconut fibers, glass beads, very nice patina of use. D. 24 cm approximately Provenance : - Former Marcel Evrard collection