Tairiiri (Fan)

Tairiiri. Fan. Composite tairiiri woven from kikau ou (young coconut leaf) with dyed-red overlaid strands of apuraka (giant swamp taro), dyed-red kiriau (hibiscus fibre) akaververe (fringe), attached to a shaped mauranga (handle) rakau nu (coconut wood). The blade is in shape of an inverted triangle. Plaited commencement at centre base. Woven out in vertical twilled-2 from the centre to form lower edge and sides of blade. Weaving technique alters to check to complete the rest of the tairiiri. Blade is decorated along the top with dyed-red overlaid strands of apuraka. A red ribbon is tied around the base of the blade near the mauranga.