Scrimshaw

Tabua are pierced and braided whales' teeth, originally taken from the lower jaw of sperm whales found stranded on Fijian beaches. Because whale strandings are relatively rare in Fiji, whale teeth are highly valued.

Cultural value

In Pacific Island societies, some objects have a cultural value that far outweighs their market value. In Fijian society, tabua are examples of this kind of object. Fijians consider tabua to be kavakaturanga (chiefly items). They are not worn, but are presented at important ceremonies, including weddings, births, and funerals. Tabua used to be the most effective way to give weight to an apology or atonement. The occasion that tabua are presented at also determines their spiritual value.

Construction

To make tabua, the whale teeth are polished and sometimes rubbed with coconut oil and turmeric to darken them. In some cases, the teeth are smoked in a small tent-like structure covered in barkcloth in order to turn them a rich tobacco colour. Ceremonial tabua have holes drilled through the tip and the butt, and a braided sennit (coconut husk fibre) cord is attached. This tabua is decorated with a scrimshaw of two European women one wearing a pelisse on her shoulders and knitted fingerless gloves, the other is wearing a poke bonnet, shoulder shawl and apron. The  women's hair and garments are in the fashionable style of the 1840s. The tabua is engraved with the Fijian name Ratu Coka and has a heavy sennit cord (now detached).

Whale teeth

While tabua are a uniquely Fijian object, whale teeth are also important in other societies. Fijians traded with Tongans for whale teeth and when European whalers arrived in the region they introduced large numbers of whale teeth into the local economy. European sailors used to carve and colour whale teeth in their spare time (this was called scrimshaw).

Whale teeth were shaped into necklaces and other ornaments in many parts of the Pacific, including Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Hawai'i, and the Marquesas Islands. Māori also used whale teeth to make rei niho (whale tooth pendants), which were worn by people of high rank.

Acquisition History

This tabua was purchased by Te Papa at an auction in 1998.