Loan (Exhibition)
Polynésie, June 2008-Sept 2008
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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Description (CMS Description)
Breastplate of ivory and shell.
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa

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Context (CMS Context)
"A very good specimen of a rare type."
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa

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Context (CMS Context)
"It is not clear if these rare ivory breastplates (civatabua) were forerunners of those incorporating pearl shell, but the Tongan chief Ma’afu told Von Hügel in 1875 that is was an ‘antique’ from Tonga. He said his first visit to Fiji ‘was caused by a similar ornament and he eventually bought a large canoe with it’ (Roth and Hooper 1990: 144-5).’’ Pacific Encounters Art & Divinity in Polynesia 1760-1860 exhibition catalogue, p. 252.
Event Date 10/10/2012
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (CMS Context)
'Seven flat sections of whale ivory are butted together and secured by paired holes cut at an angle into the edge of each section. This Tongan/Samoan canoe builder’s technique means that no bindings show on the front. Neck cords of coir are attached through nine holes drilled through the top’'. Pacific Encounters Art & Divinity in Polynesia 1760-1860 Exhibition catalogue, p. 252.
Event Date 10/10/2012
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (CMS Context)
Catalogue card 1 reads: [stamped in black ink:] 'Z 2749 FIJI'. [typed:] 'Na Koro Vatu Tholo East Province Matai Lombau. Viti Levu. Breastplate of ivory, "a very good specimen of a rare type. Of Tongan origin but used by the Fijians on solevu and meke occasions". Solevu = a large gathering of people, meke = a dance. "Ciwa tabua". [brackets added around 'Ciwa tabua' and 'Thiwa Tambua' typed next to it]. [stamped in black ink:] 'THE VON HÜGEL COLLECTION CIRCA 1875.' [added in blue pen:] '1923 H. 168'. [added in black pen:] '(Centenary Exhibition)'. [written in pencil in the bottom left corner:] '1/266'. [stamped in blue ink in the bottom right corner:] 'SHOW CASE NUMBER 1'. A round red sticker pasted on the card.
Catalogue card 2 reads: [handwritten in black ink:] 'Z 2749 NA KORO VATU. MATAI LOMBAU. Tholo East Province Viti Levu. Breastplate of ivory, "a very good specimen of a rare type. Of Tongan origin but used by the Fijians on solevu & meke occasions". Solevu = a large gathering of people, meke = a dance. ("Ciwa tabua") Thiwa Tambua. Show Case Number 1.' [added in blue pen:] 'C + D. A. VON HUGEL'.
Event Date 10/10/2012
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (CMS Context)
Collected by AVH on 27 June 1875: ‘I got also a curious circular breastplate, most ingeniously put together out of seven pieces of sperm whale tooth which had been ground down to about a quarter of an inch in thickness. The pieces fit into each other with great nicety, and are secured by coconut fibre thread passed through holes so neatly drilled into the edges that the fastening is only visible from one side. I am told that these breastplates (iukuukunisere) are very scarce. I have not seen them in use and by their make I suspect that they are not of Fijian origin’ (Hooper & Roth 1990:36)
Event Date 10/10/2012
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Description (CMS Description)
Large circular breastplate composed of seven sections of whale ivory. The top of the breastplate is pierced with nine holes to which is attached a cord formed of sixteen very thin strands of 3-ply plaited coir. Both end of the cords are bound with another length of 3-ply plaited coir. Some of the strands have snapped. At the back, the internal edges of each whale ivory section are perforated at the back and in the width. They are attached together with thin strands of ?vegetable fibre. The breastplate is a light cream colour at the front and a light honey colour at the back. There is some natural pitting on the surface of the central section on both sides of the breastplate. On one side there is also a half moon shaped indentation underneath the pitting.
Event Date 10/10/2012
Author: maa

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Context (CMS Context)
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 31/1/2013
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (CMS Context)
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 31/1/2013
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (CMS Context)
Labels & inscriptions: '1923.H168.' and 'Z. 2749' inscribed in black ink at the top of the breastplate at the front.
Event Date 31/1/2013
Author: Lucie Carreau

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Context (CMS Context)
Exhibited: 'Chiefs & Governors: Art and power in Fiji', Cambridge MAA, 7 June 2013 - 19 April 2014.
Event Date 25/4/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden

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Conservation ()
CON.2013.25 |
Event Date 1/3/2016
Author: maa