LARGE TABUA, FIJI, MID 19TH CENTURY

Tabua wa magimagi

Sperm Whale tooth suspended from a chain of looped sinnet fibre, magimagi. Teeth from the upper jaw of a Sperm Whale were regarded with reverence, perhaps the most important of the Fijian valuables. Acceptance of a tooth presented to a chief bound him to the request made with the tooth, such as a desired course of action. They were also made as presentations in marriage and as tokens of personal esteem.

Tooth measures 7 inches and is very heavy, great patina, original sinnet suspension cord, from old local collection, collected by Colonel John Durnford-Slater
British Army, India, Ca1935