Yaqona Bowl (Ibuburau Ni Bete)
ClassificationsFurnishings-Serviceware-bowls
Datelate 20th Century
Made AtFiji
MediumWood
Dimensions3 1/8 × 7 7/8 × 14 1/8 in. (7.9 × 20 × 35.9 cm)
Credit LineBowers Museum Purchase provided by the Jordan Community Trust
Object number2003.7.8
DescriptionThis wooden bowl is was likely bowl for drinking yaqona. Yaqona, a drink made from the root of a pepper tree called kava. There are two bowls related to this ceremony, the bowl in which the drink is made, the tanoa, and a small bowl in which the drink is served. Wooden bowls are commonly used in Fijian culture to create food, while serving it on leaves. Making serving bowls very special and used only during rituals. Before these wooden bowls, the yaqona was made in ceramic bowls or in a plantain leave in a hole in the ground. Uniquely shaped dishes like this one were specifically used by priests. This dish was used to drink yaqona, and is in the form for a bird, likely a duck and is called ibuburau ni bete. The duck is not a prominent character in Fijian mythology, but they are considerd special since they inhabit land, sea, and air.On View
Not on viewCollections
early to mid 20th Century
late 19th to early 20th Century
early to mid 19th Century
mid to late 20th Century
mid to late 20th Century
20th Century
20th Century
20th Century
20th Century
20th Century
20th Century