Ilili

human history

Iliili. Fan. This is a handwoven fan. A thin handle of kieto (ebony wood) has been hafted into a length. It is a blend of dark brown and light brown tones and has a surface sheen, suggesting the wood has been polished. It is rectangular in cross-section and features some slight nicks at its base end where it has also been cut on an angle. The blade has been constructed from a framework of lau niu (coconut midribs) and woven over with kāniu (the young white leaf of the coconut frond). The woven blade is triangular in shape and flat in form. The sides, which are decorated with two openly woven borders, curve in to form a serrated top corner. The spine of the blade protrudes slightly on one side. The junction of the blade and the kieto handle has been wrapped with a pale-yellow strip of lau fā (pandanus). This width of lau fā has been interwoven with a 3 ply braided length of lau ulu (human hair) to create an intricate geometric mata pēle (pattern), used to further adorn the iliili.

Accession number: 1962.100 Last Update: 16 Sept 2019
Other Name

Fan (English)

Place
Niue
Accession Number

1962.100

Accession Date

18 Jul 1962

Other Id

36824.1 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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