Loan (Exhibition)
Polynésie, June 2008-Sept 2008
Event Date
Author: maa

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Description (Labels & Markings)
'36.380 U.M.A.E. CAMBRIDGE' inscribed in black ink on the object.
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads [stamped in blue ink:] '1936-380 FIJI'. [typed:] Tambua made up of two complete sperm whales teeth and sections of several others. Fully described in a current number of "Man". Taken from its repository in a temple, mbure kalou, in a village of Naitasiri province Viti Levu, by the Chief of the Naitasiri, by name Ratu Peni Tanoa who was a descendant of Thakombau, who was a paramount Chief, vuni valu, of the Fiji islands in 1874, when they were ceded to the British, and presented by Tanoa to Sir J. B. Thurston who was Governor of Fiji 1888 to 1897, and presented to the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and of Ethnology by Miss Thurston October 1936.'
[stamped in red ink:] 'CUMAA 27 AUG 1987 TRANSCRIBED'.
A small round red sticker pasted on the card.
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (Related Documents)
The catalogue card reads: "Fully described in a current number of "Man" "Taken from it's repository in a temple, mbure kalou, in a village of Naitasiri Province, by the Chief of the Naitasiri, by name Ratu Peni Tanoa who was a descendant of Thakombua, who was paramount Chief, vuni valu, of the Fiji Islands in 1874, when they were ceded to the British, and presented by Tanoa to Sir J.B. Thurston who was Governor of Fiji in 1888 to 1897, and presented to the Cambridge University of Archaeology and of Ethnology by Miss Thurston. [Note by Colonel F.J. Hayter];
Found: mbure kalou, village of the Naitasiri Province; Collected by: Thurston.Sir.J.B
Event Date
Author: maa

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Loan (Exhibition)
Exhibition \'Pacific Divinities: Gods, Chiefs and Priests in Polynesia 1760-1850\', March 2006-May 2006.
Event Date
Author: maa

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Exhibition (Maudslay Gallery)
EXH.2018.4 | Pacific Currents
Event Date
Author: Remke Velden

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Loan (Exhibition)
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, UEA, Norwich, October 15 2016- February 12 2017, Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific
Event Date
Author: maa

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Context (Related Documents)
Annual Report of the Faculty Board of Archaeology and Anthropology on the Museum of Archaeology and of Ethnology and its Library, 1936 [2 March 1937], List of Accessions from 1 January to 31 December 1936: ‘Thurston, Miss Anne: Remarkable composite tambua, made of a number of sperm-whale teeth, Naitasiri Province, Viti Levu, Fiji (36.380)' (1937: 4).
Event Date 02/03/1937
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Description (Physical description)
Made up of two complete whales teeth and sections of several others. 'Pierced at ends for suspension and several of the sections of other teeth are also pierced and internally lashed together. Suspended on a section of elaborately plaited sinnet, square in section.R.Hand 01/2007'
Event Date 27/8/1987
Author: maa

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Context (Display)
On display in "Pacific Encounters 1760- 1860", Sainsbury Research Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich (May- August 2006)' (F. Veys, 25/04/2006).


Event Date 05/2006
Author: Rachel Hand

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Context (Display)
On display in 'Polynésie: Arts et Divinités 1760-1860’, Musée du quai Branly, Paris (17 June – 14 September 2008) F. Wonu Veys’
Event Date 17/6/2008
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (Other)
This object was brought out of the stores for the visit of the President of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, and the Fijian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Solo Mara on 28 July 2012.
Event Date 28/07/2012
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Description (Physical description)
Large composite presentation 'sperm whale tooth' (tabua), formed of nine pieces of sperm whale ivory (two whole teeth and seven other sections), assembled by a technique which renders the coir cords virtually invisible (some of the lashing is visible in three places). Both ends are pierced for attachment to a braided cord of coir reminiscent of the watabu cords of tanoa bowls (one end is detached). The surface is very smooth and polished. Light honey colour. Some black stain (?ink, ?paint) visible on the surface at one end (L. Carreau, 3/10/2012).
Event Date 3/10/2012
Author: maa

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Context (Other)
This object was brought out of the stores for the visit of the Prime Minister of Fiji, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, and the Fijian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Solo Mara on 26 November 2012.
Event Date 26/11/2012
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (Display)
Exhibited: 'Chiefs & Governors: Art and power in Fiji', Cambridge MAA, 7 June 2013 - 19 April 2014.

Event Date 07/06/2013
Author: Remke van der Velden

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Conservation (Assessment Only)
CON.2015.2014 | Assessment Only
Event Date 22/9/2015
Author: kw402

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Description (Physical description)
Tabua. Large composite presentation sperm whale tooth (tabua) formed of 9 pieces of sperm whale ivory (two whole teeth and 7 other sections). Both ends are pierced for attachment to a braided cord of coir. The surface is very smooth and polished.
Event Date 7/12/2016
Author: maa

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Conservation ()
CON.2013.2 |
Event Date 1/3/2016
Author: maa

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Loan (Exhibition)
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 15/12/2019 to 19/07/2020, Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific
Event Date 15/12/2019
Author: Katrina Dring

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Loan (Exhibition)
Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachussetts, 12/09/2020 to 03/01/2021, Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific
Event Date 12/9/2020
Author: Katrina Dring