Tairiiri (Fan)

Tairiiri. Fan. Composite tairiiri woven from kikau ou (young coconut leaf), with overlaid strips of apuraka (giant swamp taro) 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. Leaflets are split in half (separating kikau and kata) and woven outwards in finer check. All edges of the blade have a subtly patara (serrated) effect from the weaving. Top edge is flat. Natural colour. Decorative patara (zig-zag) band across the top of the blade of dyed-red and black apuraka strips overlaid on the kikau. Faces of the blade are not identical. Other side has red and black dyed-strips in a thinner patara across the top. Blade is attached to a carved mauranga rakau of light brown colour and lashed at the centre base of blade with 15 mm of fibre lashing.