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Tabua

human history
  • Other Name

    Whale tooth (English)

  • Description

    Tabua. A ceremonial whale's tooth with a hole drilled at its tip and base areas for suspension. An iyau (treasure) of high cultural value to Fijians. Sourced from a tovuto (sperm whale), the tabua is curved and shaped like a horn. Ovoid in cross section. The outer surface of the tabua is polished and a golden yellow-brown colour, possibly enhanced through a smoking technique. There are fine scratches and nicks on the tabua's surface, especially around the tip and base.

    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. It extends deep into the interior of the tabua. A short fragment of twisted plant fibre cord, brown in colour is attached to the hole drilled at the tip of the tabua.

  • Place
    Fiji
  • Accession Date
    1924
  • Other Id

    14854.2 (ethnology)

    O178 (Edge-Partington)

  • Department

    Pacific

Tabua, 14854.2, O178, Photographed by Jennifer Carol,… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

  • Tabua, 14854.2, O178, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 28 Jul 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 14854.2, O178, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 28 Jul 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 14854.2, O178, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 28 Jul 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 14854.2, O178, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 28 Jul 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 14854.2, O178, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 28 Jul 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 14854.2, O178, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 28 Jul 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 14854.2, O178, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 28 Jul 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply

Artefact

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