Nalot Fish Tail Knife

This handcrafted Nalot Knife is made from insect-free, quarantine-cleared native wood by Barnabas Noel of the Torba Handicraft Cooperative.

The Nalot Knife holds deep cultural significance in northern Vanuatu, where it is traditionally used to cut nalot, a pudding made from breadfruit or manioc mixed with coconut milk.

A wooden pounder is used to prepare the pudding on a specially crafted wooden plate. The Nalot Knife is then used to divide and serve the dish.

Historically, the task of making and cutting nalot was a responsibility of men, and the knives and pounders used were often intricately carved with designs symbolizing the spiritual significance and social rank of the owner within men’s societies.

In the Banks Islands, many of these knives feature holes in the handle, representing the sacred fires or ovens found in men’s houses. Others are shaped like human figures. Carved ridges on the knife's handle signify the boundaries between different fires within these sacred spaces.

The Torba Handicraft Cooperative, established in 2018 in Vetimboso Village on Vanua Lava Island. This project helps local artisans transform their traditional skills into sustainable income opportunities, while preserving the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Size: approx. 500 x 73 mm

Weight: 154g