Accession No
Z 3023
Description
Smoked presentation sperm whale tooth (tabua), pierced at the tip (one hole) and at the butt (two holes) for suspension (the cord is now missing). The surface is very smooth and polished with a distinctive red tint, characteristic of smoked tabua.
Place
Oceania; Polynesia; Fiji
Period
Source
von Hügel, Anatole (Baron) [collector and donor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
Z 3023; 1923.H169
Cultural Affliation
Material
Ivory; Tooth
Local Term
Tambua [from catalogue card]; Tabua [Fiji Project]; Tabuadamu [Fiji Project]
Measurements
Events
Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card 1 reads [stamped in black ink:] 'FIJI'. [typed:] 'Z-3023. Tabua.' [stamped in black ink:] 'THE VON HÜGEL COLLECTION CIRCA 1875'. [in pencil in the bottom left corner:] '12 a / 31'. [added in pencil:] 'Dep AvH 17 (8) 1923-H169. No entry Dep Reg [+ Hayter's signature]'. A small round red sticker pasted on the card.
Catalogue card 2 reads [handwritten in blue ink:] 'Z 3023. Tambua'.
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau
Description (Labels & Markings)
'Z- 3023' and '1923.H169.' inscribed in black ink on one side of the object.
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau
Description (Physical description)
Tambua.
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Smoked presentation sperm whale tooth (tabua), pierced at the tip (one hole) and at the butt (two holes) for suspension (the cord is now missing). The surface is very smooth and polished with a distinctive red tint, characteristic of smoked tabua. The tip is curving upwards and inwards. The butt of the tooth has a natural crack which, combine to the two holes, makes the object resemble a shark (L. Carreau, 27/12/2012).
Event Date 27/12/2012
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
Context (Analysis)
This object was examined at the ivory identification workshop led by Dr Sonia O'Connor and Dr James H. Barrett, held at the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge on 21 September 2018. It was confirmed to be whale ivory.
Event Date 21/9/2018
Author: Lucie Carreau
FM:109505
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