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Vaka ama

human history
  • Other Name

    Model canoe (English)

  • Description

    Vaka ama. A model of a single hull outrigger canoe. This vaka ama is designed for a single occupant. All components of this vaka ama are carved from wood, brown in colour, and lashed together with what appears to be cotton twine as well as natural plant fibre. The tino vaka (hull) is carved to a point at each end, with a rounded base, from what may possibly be moota wood.

    Attached to cover the tino vaka is a carved puke (combined prow and stern cover component) which is lashed securely with fibre along the length of the tino vaka including at each terminal end. Decorative incised lines are applied to the surface of the wooden puke, which has a raised serrated ridgeline along its centre. Along each side at the join between the tino vaka and the puke, a line of white fua pule (cowrie shells) is attached for decorative purposes. Two wooden tau toko (crossbooms) extend out from the tino vaka with a supporting rod connecting them. Two tutuki (wooden stakes) are tied to one of the tau toko, and four tutuki are tied to the other. The hama (outrigger) for this model vaka ama is missing. A model fohe is associated with this vaka ama.

  • Place
  • Accession Date
    1929
  • Other Id

    3788 (ethnology)

    M.20 (Edge Partington)

  • Department
Vaka, 3788, M.20, Photographed by Richard Ng, digital, 08… … Read more

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