Samban, (suspension hooks) may have both practical and spiritual functions. Samban would be hung from the rafters and used to suspend food, clothes or other objects, keeping them safe from pests and vermin. They depict totemic animals or ancestoral spirits and could be used as a medium through which to communicate with the siritual world.

"This hook is a particularly well executed example. Often sambal (suspension hoofs) depict a significant ancestor figure whose identity has become muted in the creation of contemporary 'art' or for sale in the tourist market." Fuli Periera, Curator, Pacific, 2016