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Acquisizione:

D'Albertis Enrico Alberto 1932

Author/ School/ Dating:

Tabua

Inventario:

C.D.A.1041

Provenienza (nazione):

Fiji

Tecnica:

L'uso dell'avorio fu introdotto nelle Fiji da Tonga nel XVIII secolo. In seguito la presenza di cacciatori di cetacei rese più facile l'utilizzo di questo materiale. Antecedentemente i tabua erano fatti di legno o di particolari conchiglie. Erano particolarmente apprezzati i tabua con patina scura, ottenuta esponendoli, unti di olio di cocco, ai fumi di un fuoco.

Utilizzo:

Simbolica/celebrativa/mezzo di scambio/offerta Veniva offerta nelle occasioni importanti; non aveva un valore fisso: il valore era determinato dallo status di chi lo offriva. Ancora oggi viene usato in occasione di matrimoni, nascite, morti e in celebrazioni ufficiali di stato.

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Viti Islands (Fiji Islands)

Consisting of a sperm whale tooth, it possessed a sacred value and was given on occasions of particular social and religious importance. They were appreciated tabua with dark patina, obtained by exposing them, anointed with coconut oil, to the fumes of a fire.

Sedre ni waiwai (piatto per olio) / dave ni yaqona (coppa per yaqona) / "

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Author/ School/ Dating:

Sedre ni waiwai (plate for oil) / dave ni yaqona (cup for yaqona) / "

Technique and Dimensions:

wood

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Viti Islands (Fiji Islands)

In the museums there are numerous specimens of these containers since they were delivered by the priests to the missionaries when they converted to Christianity.

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Acquisizione:

E.A. D'Albertis 1932

Author/ School/ Dating:

Fork

Inventario:

C.D.A.1089

Misure:

Unità di misura: cm
Tipo di misura: lunghezza
Valore: 28.5

Provenienza (nazione):

Fiji

Technique and Dimensions:

wood

Utilizzo:

Portare alla bocca cibi simbolicamente sacri e di conseguenza intoccabili con le mani. Questi oggetti vennero introdotti nei musei occidentali dai missionari con la definizione di "forchetta dei cannibali" al fine di evidenziare la difficoltà della loro azione evangelizzatrice.

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Viti Islands (Fiji Islands)

Introduced in Western museums by missionaries with the definition of "cannibal fork" to highlight the difficulty of their evangelizing action.
Even today it is reproduced as it is one of the most sought after souvenirs by tourists.

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Acquisizione:

Collezione del Cap. E.A. d'Albertis (?) 1932

Author/ School/ Dating:

Totokia (battle hammer to beak)

Inventario:

S.N. 268

Provenienza (nazione):

Fiji

Tecnica:

La testa veniva intagliata a forma del frutto del pandano, albero diffuso nel pacifico meridionale.

Utilizzo:

Offensiva Veniva usata generalmente per l'esecuzione di trasgressori delle leggi sociali e per il sacrificio umano.

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Viti Islands (Fiji Islands)

The shape of the head is inspired by the fruit of the pandane (Pandanus caricosus, Pandanus tectorius), tree diffused in the South Pacific, of which are utilized all the parts, from the leaves to the roots. It was the favored weapon of the chiefs and warriors of rank and was used for the execution of transgressors of social laws and for human sacrifice. For its functions it was considered sacred.

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Author/ School/ Dating:

I ula tavatava

Technique and Dimensions:

wood

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Viti Islands (Fiji Islands)

Throwing club (the ula), short range; it could also be used in close combat. It was worn to the belt alone or in pairs. It takes its name from the multiple lobes of the head (tavatava).

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Author/ School/ Dating:

Kali

Technique and Dimensions:

wood

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Viti Islands (Fiji Islands)

Placed under the back of the neck, it was initially reserved for the use of aristocrats to preserve the elaborate hairstyles and prevent the spiritual power, the mana, which was thought to envelop their heads like a halo, came into contact with the soil thus triggering dangerous consequences especially for "ordinary people".

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Author/ School/ Dating:

lei ‘olepe

Technique and Dimensions:

Shells: Chlamys sp.

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Polynesia

Necklace of bivalve shells: it was also used as a hat band.
Hawaii

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Acquisizione:

E.A. d'Albertis 1932

Author/ School/ Dating:

No’oanga

Inventario:

C.D.A.1106

Provenienza (nazione):

Isole Cook

Tecnica:

Modellato in un unico pezzo di tamanu, albero il cui legno non è soggetto a processo di marcescenza grazie alla resina di cui è impregnato.

Utilizzo:

Simbolica Questo tipo di sedile aveva un valore più simbolico che utilitario. Cerimonie

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Polynesia

Seat reserved for leaders. Shaped in a single piece of tamanu, the tree whose wood has the advantage of not being subject to the process of rotting thanks to the resin that impregnates it. No'oanga had more symbolic than utilitarian value.
Atiu, Cook Islands

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Titolo dell'opera:

Necklace with pendant

Acquisizione:

Enrico Alberto D'Albertis 1932

Author/ School/ Dating:

Necklace with pendant

Epoca:

XIX - 1851 - 1900

Inventario:

C.D.A.1038

Misure:

Tipo di misura: lunghezza; Unità di misura: cm; Valore: 20; Tipo di misura: lunghezza; Unità di misura: cm; Valore: 10

Provenienza (nazione):

Hawaii

Technique and Dimensions:

Sperm whale’s teeth (Physeter macrocepahalus), hair

Utilizzo:

Riconoscimento dello status sociale. Tradizionalmente veniva indossata da uomini e donne di rango superiore, anche se nel XIX secolo fu utilizzata anche da individui di status inferiore. Fu usata anche come oggetto di scambio con visitatori americani ed europei. Cerimonie/vita quotidiana (?)

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Polynesia

Descrizione:

Necklace consisting of a central ivory pendant in the shape of a hook (stylisation of a godhead with chin, mouth and tongue, centres of vitality and spiritual strength) supported by two skeins of thin braids of human hair. At the other end of the two skeins are sewn two dark brown cotton webbing for closure. Worn exclusively by higher ranking chiefs of both sexes as the second most important symbol of power after the feather cloak. The materials from which it is made indicate its sacred character: in the Eastern Pacific, the head was considered the most sacred part of the human body because spiritual strength was believed to be concentrated mainly in it and in the hair. When a sperm whale died, its hair was cut off and used to make objects such as this ornament. The sperm whale was not hunted but when a carcass was stranded on the reefs it became the property of the chief of higher rank; once found the teeth were removed and used. In this type of ornament the tooth was moulded in the shape of a tongue, perhaps indicating that the wearer spoke with authority.

lei - collana / lei po’o - lei per testa

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Author/ School/ Dating:

lei - necklace / lei po’o - lei for head

Technique and Dimensions:

Shells: Orobophana sp. , vegetable fibres

Back to Focus:

Polynesia

Made of small shells it could also be used as a crown (lei po'o).
On the basis of the material used, we distinguish the non-perishable lei made with feathers, bone, hair, teeth, shells and perishable ones made with flowers, leaves and small fruits.

The conception of this type of ornament is Polynesian, but it is in Hawaii that it has reached greater quality of expression: the materials were selected for beauty, color, symbolism, therapeutic value, fragrance. After the discovery of these islands were introduced new materials including:

glass, ceramics, semi-precious stones, which were incorporated into the making of necklaces. With tourism, production has become an important economic activity: today, alongside the traditional necklaces are those made with silk, paper, current coins in the United States, plastic, ribbons.
Hawaii

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