Exchange Valuable
| Native Name | Tabua |
|---|---|
| Object Number: | 58-17-29 |
| Current Location: | Collections Storage |
| Provenience: | Fiji Islands Viti Levu |
| Section: | Oceanian |
| Materials: | Whale Tooth Plant Fiber |
| Length: | 16.5 cm |
| Width: | 6 cm |
| Credit Line: | Bequest of Harry B. Wright, 1958 |
Description
Sperm Whale tooth. Polished, probably oiled (warm ivory color). Pireced at tip and edge of open end for suspension cord. Thick braided coconut fiber cord lashed at ends with red and white cotton thread.
Original catalogue card reads:
Tooth of a cachalot whale. Neck rope is heavy, braided of brown fiber; attached to tooth with red and white thread. Tooth is undoubtedly old but rope is recent.
Story of acquisition appears in True Magazine, "Festival in Fiji," by Harry B. Wright, February ? 1950, pp/100-101. Said to belong to the "Queen of the Narewa tribe." The story is a bit fanciful.
Current & Past Exhibitions:
| Polynesia Gallery (28 Jan 1982 - Jun 2010) | View Objects in Exhibition |
Bibliography:
| [Article] Wright, Harry B. 1950. "Festival in Fiji". True Magazine. pg. 100-101 General Reference : Page/Fig./Plate: pp. 100-101 | View Objects related to this General Reference |
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