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Foodstuffs

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Among the nutritional staples of the Marshall Islands are the fruit of the pandanus tree (pandanus tectorius) and the breadfruit tree (artocarpus altilis). They were consumed in their raw, cooked and fermented forms. As a preserve, as shown here, they could keep for a long periods and so were taken as provisions on extensive sea voyages. Preserves were prepared by scraping the cooked fruit using special tools fashioned from shells (II/1404+1405), which was then shaken out onto coconut bast (II/1310) and dried in the sun atop a special rack (II/1406). The dried paste was rolled and pressed together and then bound in pandanus leaves. A coir thread netting provided the rolls with a shape. According to their collector, the conserves in question demonstrate a particularly high quality of preparation, such as those especially made only for chiefs.

Data Provider
Museen Freiburg Show original at data provider

Cataloguing data

Object type
Food Preserve
Dimensions
Diameter: 50.0 mm
Height: 300.0 mm
Width: 50.0 mm
Depth: 50.0 mm
Material/Technique
Coconut fibre, Leaf
Current location
Museum Natur und Mensch
Inventory number
II/1294
Related object(s)

Provenance and sources

  • Production
    when
    before 1900
  • Change of legal title:
    Donation
    when
    24.04.1900
    who
    Brandeis, Eugen - Former Possessors
  • Change of physical control or legal title
    where
    Marshall Islands (location/origin)
    Micronesia (location/origin)
    Oceania (location/origin)
    who
    Brandeis, Antonie - Collectors
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Oceania
Provenance
Donated by Eugen Brandeis (Imperial Governor of the Marshall Islands) April 1900, collected by Antonie Brandeis (Jaluit) /Donated by Eugen Brandeis (Imperial Governor of the Marshall Islands) April 1900, collected by Antonie Brandeis (Jaluit) Object no. 32 (Object list Antonie Brandeis, 1st consignment April 1900, SAF D.Sm 35/1): "Eine kl. Rolle Pandanus Konserve. Djihinar. Contents separate pandanus paste, pandanus leaves on the outside. Leaves". Additional comment: "Pandanus is eaten raw or boiled. A preserve is prepared by scraping the cooked fruits individually over the shells No. 24 and 25 or also coconut No. 26, pouring them onto coconut bast No. 97 and drying them in the sun on a frame model No. 5. The dried paste is then rolled up tightly into rolls of 80-90 cm, which are skilfully covered with dry pandanus leaves and wrapped with coconut twine. This preserve lasts for years and is especially popular as provisions on ships. A small roll shows No. 32 how these of the best quality are made for the chiefs." (in: "Bemerkungen zu den dem Museum zu Freiburg /B. übersandten ethnologischen Gegenständen aus den Marshallinseln. South Seas". SAF D.Sm 35/1).

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC0 1.0 DEED

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