Accession No
1918.213.67
Description
Presentation sperm whale tooth, tabua, pierced at the tip and at the butt, and hung on a cord of coir.
Place
Oceania; Polynesia; Fiji
Period
19th century
Source
Gordon, Arthur Charles Hamilton [collector]; Gordon,George Arthur Maurice Hamilton [donor]; Stanmore (Lord)
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
1918.213.67; MAA: Z 3018
Cultural Affliation
Material
Ivory; Plant; Fibre
Local Term
Tambua [from catalogue card]; Tabua [Fiji Project]
Measurements
220mm x 62mm x 305mm
Events
Description (Labels & Markings)
A rectangular cream label pasted underneath the numbers read [handwritten in brown ink:] '1918;213 (67) Fiji Islands. Stanmore Colln. 1912'.
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau
Description (Labels & Markings)
'Z- 3018' and '1918-213 (67)' inscribed on the object in black ink.
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau
Exhibition (Maudslay Gallery)
EXH.2018.4 | Pacific Currents
Event Date
Author: Remke Velden
Description (Inscription)
'Nadago' inscribed on the object in faded brown ink.
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau
Context (Field collection)
Catalogue cards says that the only Nadago recorded in 1922 census is located on Taveuni Island, Cakaudrove Province, Saqani District. There is another Nadago located near Vaturu, Ba Province, Viti Levu which might fit Gordon’s movements better.
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau
Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card 1 reads [handwritten in blue pen:] '1918 213 (66-73) Fiji. 8 tambua (polished sperm whale tooth, used as tokens of good faith) with ornate loop of plaited coconut fibre: some of the teeth are ground into symmetrical forms + stained red with turmeric. These tambua were presented to the 1st Governor of Fiji (Sir Arthur Hamilton [other side of the card:] Gordon) at the cession of the Islands + on other ceremonial occasions, 1876-1880. [front of the card:] G. A. M. Hamilton-Gordon 2nd Baron Stanmore. (See 1st Card). P.T.O.' [stamped in red ink:] 'CUMAA 19 JUL 1987 TRANSCRIBED'. [back of the card:] '67 = Z 3018; 68 = Z 3030; 69 = Z 3021; 70 = Z 3027; 73 = Z 3029'.
Catalogue card 2 reads [stamped in black ink:] 'FIJI'. [typed:] Z-3018. Tabua. On label: - 1918-213 (6) Fiji Islands Stanmore collection 1912. In ink on the tambua: - Nadgo August 1876. A. H. Gordon circa 1875. [added in pencil:] 'Nadgo cannot be identified as a place but if it be Nadogo it agrees with the 1922 Fijian census as being a village in the district of Saqani, province of Cakaudrove, Taveuni Isld, a few miles S.E. of Vanua Levu island. Reg. 1918-213 (67) no card'. [in pencil in the bottom left corner:] '12 A / 40'. A small round red sticker pasted on the card.
Catalogue card 3 reads [handwritten in blue ink:] 'Z 3018. Tambua. On label: - 1918-213 (6) Fiji Islands Stanmore collection 1912. In ink on the tambua: - Nadgo August 4. 1876. A. H. Gordon circa 1875.
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau
Context (Field collection)
Collected by Sir Arthur Gordon on 4 August 1876.
Event Date 04/08/1876
Author: Lucie Carreau
Description (Inscription)
'Nadago August 4 1876.' inscribed on the object in black ink.
Event Date 4/8/1876
Author: Lucie Carreau
Description (Labels & Markings)
'1918/213 (67) Colln' inscribed in pencil on the object.
Event Date 1918
Author: Lucie Carreau
Description (Physical description)
Tambua.
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa
Description (Labels & Markings)
On label: "1918.213 (6). Fiji Islands. Stanmore Collection 1912. In ink on the tambua: - Nadyo, August 4, 1876.". Collected c1875
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Presentation sperm whale tooth (tabua), pierced at the tip (one hole) and at the butt (one hole), and hung on a thin braided cord of coir reminiscent of the watabu cords of tanoa bowls (one end is detached). The butt of the tooth is almost oval in section while the tip is circular in section and tapering. The surface is very smooth and polished, but also irregular. Light cream colour (L. Carreau, 26/11/2012).
Event Date 26/11/2012
Author: maa
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
Conservation ()
CON.2013.69 |
Event Date 1/3/2016
Author: maa
FM:109501
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