Barkcloth and whale's tooth
from w
Still grounded with a bad cough so I ain't going anywhere. So I just drew one view inside the lounge room which includes barkcloth, a garland made of hibiscus fibre rosettes, a whale's tooth, a vase and a book.
(added later)
In the Fiji Times I saw a photo of Tui Macuata and a pile of tabua whales teeth, a huge pile, and this photo shows the context in which whales teeth are given and received - usually as just one, but in some ceremonies a huge number which is a very costly and extravagant exercise to someone outside the Fijian culture. After the final ceremony at Naduri, the tabua would be re-districtuted amongst the people of Macuata as a thank you for the week of hospitality.
Labels: Fijian crafts, tabua
3 Comments:
Wow. This is beautiful.
pretty drawing. Big whale tooth. Didn't know they were that big.
Thanks.Maybe I drew the garland a bit small, but it is a fine tabua, a precious item to remember a family rite of passage. Though whales teeth usually move on and on when the need arises such as a marriage, a funeral, an apology.
w.
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