Tairiiri (Fan)

Tairiiri. Fan. Composite tairiiri woven from kikau ou (young coconut leaf) with dyed orange apuraka (giant swamp taro) overlaid akamanea (decoration), attached to a mauranga (handle) rakau (wooden). The blade is in the shape of an inverted triangle. Plaited commencement at the centre base of the blade. Top edge of the blade is flat and is decorated with interwoven dyed-red strips of kiriau (hibiscus fibres), forming the akaverevere (fringe). Blade is attached to a shaped mauranga rakau and lashed on the base of the blade with cotton thread. Mauranga has a split down the centre. Red/pink marks visible on upper edge of blade.