Model tanoa fai'ava (kava bowl)

This is a model of a tanoa fai'ava, a wooden bowl used in the preparation of a beverage made from the roots of the kava plant. The roots are crushed into a powder-like form and mixed in the bowl with water. Kava, or 'ava as it is known in Samoa, can be served informally, although its most important use is in chiefly meetings and ceremonies. This model tanoa fai'ava was probably made in the early twentieth century for the tourist trade. It is decorated with incised patterns in-filled with white and powdery coral lime.

Manufacture and design

Historically, the manufacture of tanoa fai'ava was a specialised task and certain villages in Samoa acquired a reputation for producing quality work. Older forms of tanoa fai'ava have four legs, whereas most tanoa fai'ava seen today (like this one) have many legs, which are either round or square in section and usually set very close together. Today's tanoa fai'ava are still made in a range of sizes, big enough to serve large formal gatherings or small enough to be portable and easily carried by tourists. The elegant form and lines of tanoa fai'ava make them a popular gift and souvenir. They are one of the most enduring icons of Samoan hospitality and culture.

Acquisition History

This model tanoa fai'ava was collected by Mr J Cook of the Wellington Hospital Board and presented to the Dominion Museum in 1957 by Mrs J Cook.