Tabua

human history

Ingoa Kē
Whale tooth (English)
Kupu whakaahua
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.
Wāhi
Fiji
Accession Number
1959.68.2
Rā Tāpiringa
19 Jun 1959
Tohu Tuakiri Kē
35651.2 (ethnology)
Wāhanga
Pacific

Uiuitia

Tāpirihia ki Taku Kete

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

Tirohia ngā pikitia

Mātātuhi me ngā tuhinga

Mātātuhi

Taonga

Rārangi Mihi
Collection of Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, 1959.68.2, 35651.2
Takenga ā-Ahurea
Fijian
Kaiwaihanga Matua
unknown (Maker)
Wāhi
Fiji
Rā
Pre 1959
Tikanga Waihanga
drilled

polished

braided

ground
Waitohu/māka
35651.2 (handwritten)

MATISI (etched)
Pāoho
whale/sea mammal/mammal/tooth/bone
sennit/cord (fiber product)
Raraunga Ine
425mm
165mm
40mm
Taumata whakarōpū
Ceremonial Artifacts
08 Communication Artifacts

Ceremonial Artefacts
Communication Artefacts
Whakahounga o Mua
30 Oct 2019

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tabua

Wāhanga PacificRā Tāpiringa 1959Accession Number 1959.68.1Kupu whakaahua Tabua. Consisting of a tovuto (sperm whale)'s tooth with wa ni tabua (cord of the tabua) attached to the ends of the tooth. The tabua is slightly curved in shape, ovoid in…

Tabua. Consisting of a tovuto (sperm whale)'s tooth with wa ni tabua (cord of the tabua) attached to the ends of the tooth. The tabua is slightly curved in shape, ovoid in cross-section, and is yellow-orange/copper in colour. There are two holes drilled on either ends of the tabua. The wa ni tabua magimagi (cord of the tabua made of coconut fibre), is woven in a box plait, and is attached to the holes at each end by another cord. There are incisions across the tabua.

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