Tairiiri (Fan)

Tairiiri. Fan. Composite tairiiri with blade woven from kikau ou (young coconut leaf) with dyed-black apuraka (giant swamp taro) akamanea (decoration) and mauranga (handle) rakau (wooden). The blade is in the shape of an inverted triangle. Plaited commencement at centre base. Woven outward in vertical twilled-2 from the centre to form lower edges and body of the blade. Weaving technique alters towards the top into a line of horizontal twilled-2 and then split into finer check weave to finish the rim (27 mm wide). Top edge is curved. Decorative dyed-black overlaid strips of apuraka akamanea form a checker-patterned curved band across the top of the blade. Blade is attached to a carved mauranga rakau of dark brown colour. Secured at the centre base with 28 mm of sewn pink ribbon.