Tairiiri (Fan)

Tairiiri. Fan. Composite tairiiri woven from kikau ou (young coconut leaf) with apuraka (giant swamp taro) overlay, kiriau (hibiscus fibre) akaververe (fringe) and a mauranga (handle) rakau (wooden). The blade is in shape of an inverted triangle. Plaited commencement at centre base. Blade is attached to a shaped mauranga rakau and lashed at the centre base of the blade with 4mm of light-brown coloured cotton thread. Faces of the blade are identical. Blade is decorated with dyed-orange/brown overlaid strands of apuraka, forming pa maunga (mountains) pattern, along the top of the blade. Tairiiri has dyed dark red kiriau akaververe and dark brown mauranga rakau.