Whale Tooth Necklace, Fiji

The whale tooth necklace, known in Fiji as the 'tabua,' is one of the most sacred and culturally significant objects in Fijian society, crafted and exchanged over centuries as a ceremonial object of great prestige. These necklaces were traditionally made from sperm whale teeth, often polished and strung on braided sennet cord, and served as vital gifts in rituals surrounding birth, marriage, death, and diplomatic negotiations. The artisans who crafted these objects were skilled members of Fijian communities whose work embodied deep spiritual meaning, chiefly authority, and ancestral connection.