HAWAIIAN WHALE TOOTH NECKLACE, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

lei niho palaoa, comprised of bundled braids of human (Homo sapiens) hair, the central pendant carved of sperm whale (Physeter catodon) tooth.

Rev. Lord Charles Amelius Hervey (1814-1880)
The Charterhouse School Museum, Surrey, England
Sotheby's London, November 5, 2002, lot 10
Acquired by the present owner at the above auction

Good condition for an object of this age and type. Blotches on pendant evident in photograph are inherent impurities in the whale's tooth, typical of the material. Exceptional condition of pendant with no chips or scratches. Fine cream white patina with number 30-1957 in black paint. Braids of hair dry and fragile with some superficial discoloration as a result of exposure to sunlight. Some braids broken.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Born in 1814, the Rev. Lord Charles Amelius Hervey, D.D., M.A. was the son of Frederick William Hervey, 1st Marquess of Bristol, and his wife, Elizabeth Albana, the daughter of Lord Templeton.  He married Lady Harriet Ryder, the daughter of Lorg Harrowby in 1839, and died in 1880.  An examination of the geneology of the Earls (later Marquesses) of Bristol provides a potential source for the present lot: Charles Amelius Hervey (1814-1880) was the fifth son of Frederick William Hervey, 5th Earl of Bristol (1769-1859), son of Frederick Augustus Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol (1730-1803), brother and successor of Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol (1724-1779).  Augustus John Hervey was a distinguished Admiral, in whose honor Captian James Cook, a former shipmate, named Hervey Bay, Queensland, Bristol Bay, Alaska, and Bristol Island, in the South Sandwich Islands.  Admiral Hervey, known for his indulgent lifestyle as the 'Naval Casanova' (McKay 2004), died without a legitimate heir, his title and estates passing to his brother, the grandfather of Charles Amelius Hervey, the documented donor of the necklace to the Charterhouse School Museum in Surrey.