Exchange Valuable
58-17-29
From: Fiji Islands | Viti Levu
Curatorial Section: Oceanian
| Native Name | Tabua |
| Object Number | 58-17-29 |
| Current Location | Collections Storage |
| Provenience | Fiji Islands | Viti Levu |
| Section | Oceanian |
| Materials | Whale Tooth | Plant Fiber |
| Description | Sperm Whale tooth. Polished, probably oiled (warm ivory color). Pireced at tip and edge of open end for suspension cord. Thick braided coconut fiber cord lashed at ends with red and white cotton thread. Original catalogue card reads: Tooth of a cachalot whale. Neck rope is heavy, braided of brown fiber; attached to tooth with red and white thread. Tooth is undoubtedly old but rope is recent. Story of acquisition appears in True Magazine, "Festival in Fiji," by Harry B. Wright, February ? 1950, pp/100-101. Said to belong to the "Queen of the Narewa tribe." The story is a bit fanciful. |
| Length | 16.5 cm |
| Width | 6 cm |
| Credit Line | Bequest of Harry B. Wright, 1958 |
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