Tabua

Tabua. A ceremonial whale's tooth with a hole drilled at its tip and base areas and a braided suspension cord attached. An iyau (treasure) of high cultural value to Fijians. Sourced from a tovuto (sperm whale), the tabua is crescent-shaped and ovoid in cross section. The outer surface of the tabua is highly polished and an orange-yellow colour, possibly enhanced through a smoking technique. The rim around the base of the tabua is jagged and thin. The hollow inner cavity of the tabua is conical in shape and dark brown in colour. The cord is made from dark brown coloured plant fibre, double-twined, connected to the tabua with natural coloured plant fibre, with one piece loose.

Other Name

Whale tooth (English)

Place

Fiji

Accession Number

1925.146

Accession Date

05 Jun 1925

Other Id

14166 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific