An important early 19th century Fijian Yagona dish from Western Vitlevu, elongated elliptical shape with a pierced tapering handle. Carved from sacred vesi wood which was typically used for religious vessels. This vessel, historically belonged to the cannibal high chief ratu Vuniani Vuki who became Rekotui Vuniani Vuki after colonisation he died in 1918. Mr Edmund Gibson Woolcott, a cane planter at Naikubu-kubu Ba secured the dish in 1912 and it was then passed on by descent until it was sold at Cordys auctions in Auckland. Provenance: Dame Jenny Gibbs collection, 56 cm length