American Samoa (not certain), Samoa (not certain) / United States (not certain), Polynesia
Accession Date:
1858
Collection Date:
1838 to 1842
Notes:
Eight coconut shell disks, some with inlaid designs and others, with coconut fiber cord lacing, which increases its value. The disks are used in a indoors game called "lafoga tupe" or "'au lafo" which is played on a mat. The disks are slid over the mat between teams of players. One coconut shell cup (see #3467) and four disks make a set. Apparently the two coconut shell cups and eight coconut shell disks associated with original Peale #1087 were divided & catalogued separately upon entering the S.I. collections. Therefore, two cups have the S.I. catalogue #3467, and the eight disks have S.I. catalogue number 3468. Publication: See Martin Orans and Daniel Pouesi, "Lafoga Tupe, An Ethno-Historical Account of a Polynesian Game," Anthropos 82.1987: 35-45; and P.H. Buck,"Samoan Material Culture," 1930, Bishop Museum, Bulletin 75.
From Card: "Undecorated; one with 4 sets of holes, sennit cord knotted thru each set."
