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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 and a braided suspension cord attached. An iyau (treasure) of high cultural value to Fijians. Sourced from a tovuto (sperm whale), the tabua is shaped like a horn, curved and tapered towards its tip, and ovoid in cross section. The outer surface of the tabua is highly polished and an ivory/yellowed colour. Several fine scratches and nicks on the tabua's surface.

    "SEVANAIA" (?) scratched into the side of the tabua. The rim around the base of the tabua is jagged. The hollow inner cavity of the tabua is deep, conical in shape and dark brown in colour. Cord of braided magimagi (coconut sennit) and knotted at each end that is secured to the tabua with twine threaded through each drilled hole in the tabua.

  • Place
    Fiji
  • Accession Number
    1924.158
  • Accession Date
    08 Aug 1924
  • Other Id

    9432 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

Tabua, 1924.158, 9432, Photographed by Jennifer Carol,… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

  • Tabua, 1924.158, 9432, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 03 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1924.158, 9432, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 03 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1924.158, 9432, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 03 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1924.158, 9432, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 03 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1924.158, 9432, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 03 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1924.158, 9432, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 03 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1924.158, 9432, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 03 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply

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