A handsome Fijian man wearing a wàsekaseka (sperm whale tooth necklace), 1880

In the 19th century, the growth of the Pacific whaling industry, driven by Euro-American demand, brought an increased supply of whale teeth to Fiji. This made it possible to produce more of the highly valued ivory ornaments known as wàsekaseka. These necklaces were carved by Tongan and Samoan canoe builders living in Fiji, who made use of metal tools introduced through European trade and whaling.

Crafting a wàsekaseka required skill and patience. A single whale tooth was cut into curved, pointed sections, which were then polished into smooth, concave shapes. Small holes were drilled along the sides, allowing the pendants to be strung together with cord made from sennit.

For Fijian chiefs, these necklaces were far more than decorative items. They represented chiefly power and authority. On certain occasions, these necklaces were also used as ransom during periods of warfare.