THE MOST VALUED GIFT

Tabua — the whale’s tooth

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What we know

  • A tabua is a polished sperm-whale tooth, usually hung on a cord of plaited coconut fibre.
  • Tabua are presented at the most important moments: marriages, deaths, apologies and serious requests.
  • European whalers in the 1800s made whale teeth more common, and they became a key trade item.

The story

A tabua is a highly valued presentation object, associated with serious requests, reconciliation and major life events. Its meaning lies in who presents it, who receives it and what is being asked or acknowledged.

Whaling and overseas trade increased the supply of whale ivory in the nineteenth century. Fijians incorporated that material into existing relationships and ceremonies. Foreign goods did not simply replace local culture: communities gave them meaning within their own social world.

Words in this chapter

tabua — this chapter is where the museum explains this word. See the whole glossary →

Pictures in this chapter

Sources

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