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Tahiti & Society Islands

Adze blade made of fine-grained black basalt and triangular in cross-section. Blade and cutting edge, as well as the sides, are smoothly polished.

Adze blade

basalt, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 15 cm, w. 4 cm (blade), Inv. Oz 362

Small stone axe with a handle made from medium brown hardwood and a blade made of fine-grained black basalt both tied together with coconut fibre. The end of the T-shaft appears to be broken off.

Adze to’i

wood, basalt, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 43 cm (overall), l. 14 cm, w. 5 cm (blade), Inv. Hanover 1854, No. 3

Large T-shaft stone axe with a handle made from medium brown hardwood and a blade made of fine-grained black basalt both tied together with coconut fibre.

Adze to’i

wood, basalt, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 53 cm (overall), l. 15.5 cm, w. 4.5 cm (blade), Inv. Oz 360

Large T-shaft stone axe with a handle made from medium brown hardwood and a blade made of fine-grained black basalt both tied together with coconut fibre.

Adze to’i

wood, basalt, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 56.5 cm (overall), l. 18.5 cm, w. 3.8 cm (blade), Inv. Oz 361

Six arrows made of light coloured bamboo cane, each with a long blunt point made of hard, dark wood that is set into the shaft with a spike.

Arrows

bamboo, wood, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 77.4–80.4 cm, d. 0.5–0.7 cm, Inv. Oz 412–417

This piece of barkcloth, reddish-beige colour and full of holes around the edges.

Barkcloth 'ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 185 cm, w. 84 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 46

Thick, soft cloth consists of two to four layers of material made of tree bark, dyed light brown and a reddish colour.

Barkcloth 'ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 177, w. 150 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 48

Thin single-layered of barkcloth dyeda yellowish colour, stained with red patterns consisting of dots and semicircles.

Barkcloth 'ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 88 cm, w. 89 cm, Inv. Oz 605

Barkcloth, an undyed multi-layered soft cloth.

Barkcloth 'ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 143 cm, w. 208 cm, Inv. Oz 613

Thick double-layered barkcloth dyed a uniform yellow with pattern of two to four rows of red circles on the border.

Barkcloth 'ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 138 cm, w. 237 cm, Inv. Oz 614

A piece of thin barkcloth dyed a yellow-brownish colour that also exhibits some reddish and greyish discolouration. Used as a cloak-like cape.

Barkcloth 'ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 140 cm, w. 200 cm, Inv. Oz 615

Two pieces of thick and soft barkcloth are multi-layered and undyed.

Barkcloth 'ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 111 cm, w. 187 cm, Inv. Oz 616

Single-layered barkcloth of a natural un-dyed cream colour with a yellowish-beige discolouration. Used to make wrap around skirts or loincloths.

Barkcloth 'ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 120 cm, w. 362 cm, Inv. Oz 619

Thin single-layered barkcloth, dyed an uneven, reddish-brown

Barkcloth 'ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 102 cm, w. 112 cm, Inv. Oz 626

Barkcloth that is double-layered, one layer being very thin and the other quite thick. The two layers are made from different fibre materials.

Barkcloth 'ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 92 cm, w. 129 cm, Inv. Oz 628

Barkcloth beater made from a piece of the heavy hardwood with its four sides feature a number of coarser to finer grooves.

Barkcloth beater tupai

wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 37 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 11

Barkcloth beater made from a piece of the heavy hardwood. Its four sides feature a number of coarser to finer grooves. The handle thickens towards the end and ends in a pyramidal shape.

Barkcloth beater tupai

wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 38.5 cm, Inv. Oz 406

Barrel-shaped basket made of woven coconut leaf ribs, sticks and plant fibre.

Basket

coconut leaf ribs, sticks, plant fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, h. 27 cm, opening 16.5–21.5 cm, Inv. Oz 400

Bow made of brown light wood and slightly curved.

Bow fana

wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 151.5 cm, d. 3.1 cm (max.), Inv. Am 2

Bow made of white wood.

Bow fana

wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 149.5 cm, d. 3.5 cm (max.), Inv. Am 3

Bow made of light-brown, light-weight wood and slightly curved.

Bow fana

wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 162 cm, d. 3.5–4 cm (max.), Inv. Oz 350

Breadfruit splitter made of a dark brown hardwood, shaped similar to an axe. The blade and shaft are made from one piece.

Breadfruit splitter

wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 31 cm, w. 6.5 cm (blade), Inv. Oz 365

Horseshoe-shaped, collar-like breast ornament or gorget made of cane, coconut fibre, dog hair, shark teeth and feathers.

Breast ornament (gorget) taumi

cane, coconut fibre, dog hair, shark teeth, feathers, Tahiti and the Society Islands, w. 51 cm, h. 33 cm, Hanover 1850, No. 1

Horseshoe-shaped, collar-like breast ornament or gorget consisting of lattice-work made of some cane slips held together by twisted plant fibre strings.

Breast ornament (gorget) taumi

cane, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, w. 51 cm (max.), h. 43 cm, Inv. Oz 426

Breastplate of semicircular shape made of cane, plaited coconut fibres and other plant material, Dog hair, shark teeth, feathers and mother-of-pearl are also used.

Breast ornament (gorget) taumi

cane, dog hair, shark teeth, feathers, mother-of-pearl, Tahiti and the Society Islands, w. 55 cm (max.), h. 52 cm, Inv. Oz 431

Black human hair loosely and unevenly twisted into a long bundle, partly in loops.

Bundle of hair

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 165 cm, Inv. Oz 113

Walnut-shaped nut. Light-brown in colour and badly splintered in places.

Candlenut tiairi

Tahiti and the Society Islands, d. 2.9 cm, Inv. Oz 442

Walnut-shaped nut with a lustrous surface of a grey or brownish-black colour.

Candlenut tiairi

Tahiti and the Society Islands, d. 3.2 cm, Inv. Oz 443

Mother-of-pearl shell used as part of a pair of clappers or castanets.

Clappers tete

shell, Tahiti and the Society Islands, d. 9.5–18.5 cm, Inv. Oz 165b

Mother-of-pearl shell used as part of a pair of clappers or castanets.

Clappers tete

shell, Tahiti and the Society Islands, d. 9.5–18.5 cm, Inv. Oz 166

A pair of castinets or clappers, formed of two mother-of-pearl shells.

Clappers tete

shell, barkcloth, Tahiti and the Society Islands, d. 18.5 cm, Inv. Oz 405 a–b

Cord made of coconut fibres and wound round old English playing cards.

Cord

coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, w. 0.2–0.8 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 14

Cord made of made from light brown plant fibres and wound round a thin piece of cardboard.

Cord

coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, w. 0.2–0.8 cm, Inv. Oz 367

Cord made of coconut fibres and wound into a ball.

Cord

coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, w. 0.2–0.8 cm, Inv. Oz 368

Cord made of coconut fibres and wound round a thin piece of cardboard.

Cord

coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, w. 0.2–0.8 cm, Inv. Oz 376

Possibly used as a drinking vessel made from the natural shell of the cowry snail.

Cowry shell

Tahiti and the Society Islands, h. 3.5 cm, Inv. Oz 396

Drinking bowl made from a light-brown young coconut where the shell was split open just above its widest point.

Drinking bowl

coconut, Tahiti and the Society Islands, h. 8 cm, Inv. Oz 392

Drinking bowl made from white coconut where the shell was split open just above its widest point.

Drinking bowl

coconut, Tahiti and the Society Islands, h. 10.3 cm, Inv. Oz 393

Drinking bowl made from a dark brown, ripe coconut with a triangular-shape opening.

Drinking bowl

coconut, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, h. 5.2 cm, Inv. Oz 395

Standing drum with zig-zag lashing. Drum skin made from shark skin fastened with plaited cord of coconut fibres stretched from the cover to the ring-like pedestal.

Drum pahu

wood, shark skin, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, h. 32.5 cm, d. 27 cm, Inv. Oz 410

Pair of ear ornaments each composed of three pearls, tied together with plaited human hair.

Ear ornaments poe

pearls, plaited human hair, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 4.5 cm; l. 9.4 cm, Inv. Oz 427, 428

Eye-shade made from matting (fara fibres) reinforced by thin wooden sticks.

Eye-shade taumata or taupoo

wood, fara (pandanus) fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 25 cm, w. 29 cm, Inv. Oz 399

Fishhook made of two pieces of mother-of-pearl, tied together with plant fibres.

Fishhook aviti

mother-of-pearl, cord, Tahiti and the Society Islands, shank l. 10 cm, w. (max.) 1.7 cm, hook l. 4.2 cm, Inv. Oz 380

Fishhook made of mother-of-pearl, where strings made of various plant fibres are attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 2.3–4.7 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 7

Fishhook made of mother-of-pearl, where strings made of various plant fibres are attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 2.3–4.7 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 8

Large fishhook made of dark purple pinna marina shell with strings made of various plant fibres attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 4.1– 10 cm, Inv. Oz 377

Fishhook made of large dark purple pinna marina shell, where strings made of various plant fibres are attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 4.1– 10 cm, Inv. Oz 378

Fishhook made of a large dark purple pinna shell where strings made of various plant fibres are attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 4.1– 10 cm, Inv. Oz 379

Fishhook made of mother-of-pearl that is supported at the upper end of the shank where strings made of various plant fibres are attached and tied to a small piece of pale, light wood.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 2.3–4.7 cm, Inv. Oz 382

Fishhook made of a large dark purple pinna shell where strings made of various plant fibres are attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 4.1– 10 cm, Inv. Oz 384

Fishhook made of a large dark purple pinna shell where strings made of various plant fibres are attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 4.1– 10 cm, Inv. Oz 385

Fishhook made of a large dark purple pinna shell where strings made of various plant fibres are attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 4.1–10 cm, Inv. Oz 386

Fishhook made of mother-of-pearl, where strings made of various plant fibres are attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 2.3–4.7 cm, Inv. Oz 387

Fishhook made of mother-of-pearl, where strings made of various plant fibres are attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 2.3–4.7 cm, Inv. Oz 388 (left)

Fishhook made of mother-of-pearl, where strings made of various plant fibres are attached.

Fishhook matau

mother-of-pearl, cord, purau wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 2.3–4.7 cm, Inv. Oz 389 (right)

U-shaped fishhook made from a piece of hardwood made secure with cord.

Fishhook

hardwood, cord, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 12.2 cm (up to the lashing), Inv. Oz 206

Large fishhook made of brown hardwood with the point made of mother-of-pearl that is secure with plaited coconut fibres.

Fishhook

hardwood, shell, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 9 cm (up to the lashing), Inv. Oz 381

Fishhook made of a finely polished piece of hardwood. The point of the hook is flat on the side and the upper end of the shank is supported and secured with plaited coconut fibres.

Fishhook

hardwood, plant fibre, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 21 cm (up to the lashing), Inv. Oz 383

Fishing bait or lure made of the backs of cowry shells to resemble an animal.

Fishing device

cowries, sticks, plant fibre, mother-of-pearl, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 44 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 10

Fishing bait or lure made of the backs of cowry shells to resemble an animal. Fishing line of plant fibre is tied to it and a mother-of-pearl hook.

Fishing device

cowries, sticks, plant fibre, mother-of-pearl, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 33 cm, 6.5 cm (fish-hook), Inv. Oz 391

Large fishing net of whitish parau with numerous weights of white coral tied with strands of plaited coconut fibre along the lower long sides, and floats of small parau sticks along the upper long sides.

Fishing net upea

purau fibre, sticks, coconut fibre, coral, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 900 cm, w. 95 cm, Inv. Oz 402

Large fishing net of whitish parau with numerous weights of white coral tied with strands of plaited coconut fibre along the lower long sides, and floats of small parau sticks along the upper long sides.

Fishing net upea

purau fibre, sticks, coconut fibre, coral, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 1100 cm, w. 100 cm, Inv. Oz 403

Flywhisk handle made of ironwood formed into a human-like shape.

Flywhisk handle (fragment)

ironwood (Casuarina equistifolia), Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 14.5 cm, w. 3.4 cm (max.), Inv. Oz 419

Flywhisk handle made of ironwood, with the lower part shaped like a human figure and the upper part consisting of a spoon-like form.

Flywhisk handle

ironwood (Casuarina equistifolia), Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 33.7 cm, h. 9.8 cm (figure), Inv. Oz 418

Headrest made of a piece of brown wood with a broad top that is hollowed in and four legs, linked by a crossbar of about the same thickness as the legs.

Headrest tuarua

tamanu (Callophyllum inophyllum)wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 46 cm, w. 15.5 cm, h. 20 cm, Inv. Oz 346

A piece of very fine matting with a fringed border made of light brown plantain leaf fibres.

Mat

lauhala (pandanus) fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 102/109 cm, w. 163/160 cm, Inv. Oz 148

piece of very fine matting made of light brown plantain leaf fibres.

Mat

purau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 123, w. 150 cm, Inv. Oz 422

A piece of very fine matting made of light brown plantain leaf fibres.

Mat

possibly banana (mei’a) fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 112 cm, w. 163 cm, Inv. Oz 423

A piece of very fine matting with a fringed border, made of light brown plantain leaf fibres.

Mat

lauhala (pandanus) fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 158/157 cm, w. 186/165 cm, Inv. Oz 424

A mourning dress formed of cock’s feathers fastened to a kind of netting made of cordage with sticks. Head-piece made of two large mother-of-pearl shells.

Mourning dress heva

shell, barkcloth, tortoiseshell, feathers, mother-of-pearl, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 210 cm, Inv. Oz 1522

One piece of a two-piece neck ornament consisting of two mother-of-pearl mussel shells. Each with its own neckband.

Neck ornament

mussel shell, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, d. 12 cm; d. 12.5 cm, Inv. Oz 404 a

One piece of a two-piece neck ornament consisting of two mother-of-pearl mussel shells. Each with its own neckband.

Neck ornament

mussel shell, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, d. 12 cm; d. 12.5 cm, Inv. Oz 404 b

Nose flute made from a piece of bamboo cane

Nose flute vivo

bamboo, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 43.5 cm, d. 3.5 cm, Inv. Oz 408

Two nose flutes made from a piece of bamboo cane.

Nose flutes vivo

bamboo, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 37.5 cm, d. 2.5 cm; l. 43.5 cm, d. 3.5 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 13

Poncho-like garment made from plantain leaf fibres woven together like matting with a fringed edge.

'Poncho-like' garment tiputa

purau fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 94, w. 50 cm, Inv. Oz 421

Poncho-like garment made from several layers of thick barkcloth.

'Poncho-like' garment tiputa

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 120, w. 168 cm, Inv. Oz 621

Poncho-like garment made from thick white bark cloth, with a red border around it.

'Poncho-like' garment tiputa

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 136, w. 339 cm, Inv. Oz 625

Pounder made from a single piece of black basalt with polished finish. A string binding at the neck is plaited from plant fibres. The object has a pounding surface, neck and a head part.

Pounder penu

basalt, Tahiti and the Society Islands, h. 17.5 cm, d. 11.5 cm (base), Hanover 1854, No. 39

Pounder made from a single piece of black basalt with polished finish. The object consists of a pounding surface, neck and a head part.

Pounder penu

basalt, Tahiti and the Society Islands, h. 17.7 cm, 12.5 cm (base), Inv. Oz 366

Quiver or arrow case made of a large bamboo cane with plaited coconut fibre wound round its open end. The egg-shaped lid is made of a young light-brown coconut shell.

Quiver piha (peeha)

bamboo, coconut shell, fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 88 cm, d. 5 cm, Inv. Oz 411

Samples of barkcloth some with a natural yellowish-white tone. Others featuring stamp patterns of red brown circles and another dyed yellowish-red and reddish-brown.

Samples of barkcloth ‘ahu

Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 4.5 cm, w. 10.5 cm (min.), l. 23 cm, w. 33 cm (max.), Inv. Oz 591–598

Skirt or apron made from fine shred of plantain leaf, dyed and knotted to a string that fastens around the waist.

Skirt

plant fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 50 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 12

Skirt formed of fine white shred of the plantain leaf, some of them dyed yellow, and knotted to a string which fastens around the waist.

Skirt

plant fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 74 cm, Inv. Oz 420

Skirt or apron made from fine shred of plantain leaf, dyed and knotted to a string that fastens around the waist.

Skirt

plant fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 30 cm, Inv. Oz 425

A rotation sling. The pouch and cords are made as one piece, from coconut fibres, which are intertwined with other plant material and plaited into tight and firm coils.

Sling ma’a

coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 214 cm, w. 4 cm, Inv. Oz 702

Spinning top that is a kind of bean with a thick dark brown shell, in which a hole is made and one end of a small stick put through it.

Spinning top

coconut leaf rib, seed, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 15.5 cm, d. 5.5 cm, Inv. Oz 461

Tufts of dog hair bundled together into twenty-two tassels and tightly wrapped both length-wise and crosswise with fine coconut fibre threads and threaded onto a stick.

Tassels of hair

dog hair, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 10–15 cm, Inv. Oz 432

Tufts of dog hair bundled together into thirteen tassels and tightly wrapped both length-wise and crosswise with fine coconut fibre threads and threaded onto a stick.

Tassels of hair

dog hair, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 10–15 cm, Inv. Oz 433

Tufts of dog hair bundled together into twenty-two tassels and wrapped with fine coconut fibre threads on three strings made of light and medium brown and black plant fibres.

Tassels of hair

dog hair, coconut fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 10–15 cm, Inv. Oz 434

Tattooing comb made of wood and plant fibre. The blade is made from bone.

Tattooing comb

wood, bone, plant fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 15.5 cm (handle), 3.3 cm (blade), Inv. Oz 436

Tattooing comb made of wood and plant fibre. The blade is made from bone.

Tattooing comb

wood, bone, plant fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 10.4 cm (handle), 2.2 cm (blade), Inv. Oz 437

Tattooing comb made of wood and plant fibre. The blade is made from bone.

Tattooing comb

wood, bone, plant fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 11.9 cm (handle), 3 cm (blade), Inv. Oz 438

Tattooing comb made of wood and plant fibre. The blade is made from bone.

Tattooing comb

wood, bone, plant fibre, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 10.3 cm (handle), 3 cm (blade), Inv. Oz 439

Tattooing mallet made from a piece of brown wood. Its long rounded handle thickens at the holding end and tapers towards the slightly concave striking surface

Tattooing mallet

wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 46.5 cm, l. 13.2 cm (striking surface), w. 5.6 cm (max.), Inv. Oz 440

Tattooing mallet made of wood.

Tattooing mallet

wood, Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 42.5 cm, l. 12.9 cm (striking surface), w. 5.3 cm (max.), Inv. Oz 441

Medium-brown wood box made from a hollowed-out tree trunk with a rectangular opening.

Treasure box

wood, probably uru (breadfruit), Tahiti and the Society Islands, l. 97 cm, w. 21 cm, h. 15 cm, Inv. Oz 349

 

 

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