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Vaka

human history
  • Other Name

    Model canoe (English)

  • Description

    Vaka. Canoe. This is a model vaka. It has been made entirely of a dark brown wood material. The hama (outrigger) and tautoko (crossbooms) are missing. The remaining body of the vaka is made up of five components. The tino vaka (hull) has been carved as one complete component. It features a curved base and is elongated in length, tapering at both ends and features a hafted interior. The cover has been attached as four components.

    The two ends portray the puke (stern and bow) and the central parts are that of the oa. Both oa and puke portray exterior carvings that portray cross-like motifs that repeat. These components feature perforations at their base edges that have been made for the purpose of inserting pulu (cordage of coconut sennit fibres) for lashing and joining to the tino vaka. The starboard side of the vaka features a decorative border between the joins of the oa and tino vaka consisting of fua pule (cowrie shells). It appears some of the pule have come loose over time. The bow point of the vaka shows a raised, carved serrated surface that tapers off towards the point. The interior of the puke and oa show where the pulu joins between the perforations. This vaka was also accompanied with a single fohe (paddle) of the same wood type. The fohe portrays both the blade and handle as one component.

  • Place
  • Accession Date
    Unknown
  • Other Id

    9706 (ethnology)

  • Department
Vaka, 9706, Photographed by Richard Ng, digital, 08 Jan… … Read more

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