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Tabua

human history
  • Other Name

    Whale Tooth (Fijian)

  • Description

    Tabua. A large size ceremonial whale's tooth with braided magimagi (coconut sennit) suspension cord attached. An iyau (treasure) of high cultural value to Fijians. Made from whale bone, the tabua is carved and ground into a crescent shape to replicate tabua shaped from tovuto (sperm whale) tooth. Ovoid in cross section. The outer surface of the tabua is porous and a speckled off white colour with several dents. A small cross is etched onto the surface of this tabua.

    The cord of magimagi is medium brown in colour.

  • Place
    Fiji
  • Accession Number
    1925.92
  • Accession Date
    30 Apr 1925
  • Other Id

    13571 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

Tabua, 1925.92, 13571, Photographed by Jennifer Carol,… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

  • Tabua, 1925.92, 13571, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1925.92, 13571, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1925.92, 13571, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1925.92, 13571, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1925.92, 13571, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1925.92, 13571, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1925.92, 13571, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • neck ornament; tabua; 13571; 1925.92
  • neck ornament; tabua; 13571; 1925.92
  • neck ornament; tabua; 13571; 1925.92
  • neck ornament; tabua; 13571; 1925.92
  • ornament
  • ornament
  • ornament

Artefact

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