Ceremonial fork

Description

wood, old collection label “Fiji 87”

These forks were used by high-ranking individuals who, as living representations of gods, could not handle food. These men were often fed by attendants who carefully placed consecrated flesh in the person’s mouth, avoiding any contact with his lips.

These objects were taboo to commoners because they had been in contact with sanctified fingers; they were kept as holy relics in the “bure kalou”, spirit house (according to Kaeppler, p. 225).

In earlier times, they were often referred to as “cannibal forks” because they were supposedly used by priests or chiefs when eating human flesh.

Comparing literature