Adze-shaped tattoing instrument. The comb on this tattooing instrument has an iridescent sheen - almost as if it is made of mother of pearl. [JP 20/3/2001]

Collection type: Object
Description: Adze-shaped tattoing instrument. The comb on this tattooing instrument has an iridescent sheen - almost as if it is made of mother of pearl. [JP 20/3/2001]
Long description: Adze-shaped tattoing instrument. Bamboo [?]hafts with either a bone or mother of pearl plate a right angles. Bone/M of P have teeth carved in the end. Bone/M of P attached by plant fibre. All areas stained with black pigment. (Heather Richardson 27/04/2001) [LKG 04/03/2009]
Geographical reference: Fiji
Oceania > Melanesia > Fiji
Person: Field collector H.A. Tufnell; Field collector Henry Archibald Tufnell; Field collector Sir William MacGregor; PRM source Henry Anson
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1899
Date collected: By 1899
Acquisition information: Donated: 1899
Materials and processes: Material Steel Metal, Material Wood Plant, Material String, Material Animal Bone, Material Mother of Pearl Shell
Dimensions: Width 12 mm blade, Length 210 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1899.62.432
Associated publications: Illustrated on page 55 of Tatu-Tattoo! (Brussels: Musées Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, 2004) the accompanying catalogue to the above exhibition. The caption reads: "Instrument de tatouage, iQia. Fidji. 19e siècle. Os?, fibres de coco, métal. L. 21 cm; l. 1,2 cm. Oxford, Pitt Rivers Museum, inv. 1899.62.432. Aux îles Fidji, seules le filles étaient tatouées. L'opération était exécutée au début de la puberté. Les motifs étaient appliqués sur les reins et l'abdomen. Dans la partie orientale de l'île Viti Levu, seuls le pubix et les grandes lèvres étaient tatoués. Il fallait être tatouée pour pouvoir se marier ... " [JP 30/9/2004]

Search terms: Tool, Body Art, Tattooing Accessory, Body Art Accessory