Te iriba

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human history

Iriba. Fan. This is a hand held fan. It features two main material components: kakoko (the young, white central leaf of the coconut) and kiaiai baste (hibiscus; hibiscus tiliaceus). The iriba is flat in form and shaped like a teardrop where a slim rectangular handle starts from the centre and extends outwards. A wide border frames the iriba. It consists of neutral off-white kakoko and black dyed kiaiai baste. A serrated pattern is defined by the black dyed kiaiai baste throughout the kakoko. A thin band has been applied over the join between the wide border and centre area of the iriba. It is also made of black dyed kiaiai baste and kakoko but through a decorative weave pattern. The central area consists of mid-brown dyed kakoko and neutral off-white kakoko. A pattern of diagonal and horizontal stripes are defined by the mid-brown dyed kakoko and the neutral, off-white kakoko. The hard spine of the handle is encased by a twill woven cover. Black dyed kiaiai baste is defined by the weft and pinnules of neutral and off-white kakoko make up the warp. Its depth is short from the central area of the iriba and then tapers outwards towards the end of the handle.

Accession number: 2013.9.6 Last Update: 1 Apr 2026
Other Name

Fan (English)

Place
Kiribati
Accession Number

2013.9.6

Accession Date

11 Apr 2013

Other Id

56726.6 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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Te iriba; 2013.9.6; 56726.6; Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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