Tabua

human history

Tabua. Consisting of a tovuto (sperm whale)'s tooth with wa ni tabua (cord of the tabua) attached to the ends of the tooth. The tabua is curved in shape consisting of a wide root end tapering to a pointed end, and is ovoid in cross-section. Hollow inside of cavity. White/yellow in colour, with crevices coloured dar brown. and is of high-polish. There are two holes drilled on both ends of the tabua. The wa ni tabua voivoi (cord of the tabua made of pandanus), is woven out in a 'chain-like' weave. There is a small piece of metal wire threaded through the hole at the pointed, with cotton thread threaded through the wire loop, and through the hole of the root end is cotton thread. The cotton thread, at both ends, is tied to each end of the wa ni tabua. There is also a small piece of pink and white striped cotton thread tied to the cotton thread. "V. I [T?] N E O R I" is incised across the tabua.

Accession number: 1939.147 Last Update: 21 Sept 2018
Other Name

Whale tooth (English)

Place
Fiji
Accession Number

1939.147

Accession Date

13 Jul 1939

Other Id

24613.1 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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Tabua, 1939.147, 24613.1, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 02 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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