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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 horn-shaped, curved and tapered towards its tip, and ovoid in cross section. The outer surface of the tabua is highly polished and yellow in colour. Several fine scratches and nicks on the tabua's surface. "MATISI" scratched into side of the tabua.

    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. Cord of braided magimagi (coconut sennit) in a chain-link style, attached to the tabua with natural coloured plant fibre securing the cord to the tabua.

  • Place
    Fiji
  • Accession Number
    1959.68.2
  • Accession Date
    19 Jun 1959
  • Other Id

    35651.2 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

Tabua, 1959.68.2, 35651.2, Photographed by Jennifer Carol,… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

  • Tabua, 1959.68.2, 35651.2, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1959.68.2, 35651.2, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1959.68.2, 35651.2, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1959.68.2, 35651.2, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1959.68.2, 35651.2, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1959.68.2, 35651.2, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1959.68.2, 35651.2, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Tabua, 1959.68.2, 35651.2, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 01 Aug 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply

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