Fiji Life

As seen throughout this exhibition, barkcloth (masi) provides a strong visual anchor for the presentation of Fijian traditional materials. Tools for the production of barkcloth, including pattern boards, rubbing forms, and wooden beaters, often bear evidence of considerable use. Other implements nearby include a special adze for cracking ivi nuts, a bamboo tube for the transportation of water, and an end-blown trumpet for various types of communication. The bar headrest, made from a single or multiple pieces of wood, was a key domestic object; it protected and provided air circulation for hairdos while people slept on woven mats. In the nineteenth century, they were produced in a variety of styles, some imported from Tonga or adapted from Tongan forms. They were often presented to a couple as marriage gifts by the woman’s family, who were expected to provide a range of domestic goods to symbolize their clan’s ability to establish a successful household.

Other works in this gallery, including elaborate multichambered water jars (saqa), provide a broader view of Fijian life during the nineteenth century. Saqa were often rubbed with hot resin from the dakua tree (Agathis vitiensis) to produce a glossy varnish, and given shapes from the natural world, like turtles, plantains, and citrus fruit.