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Tautau fakamanaia

human history
  • Other Name

    Kilt skirt (English)

  • Description

    Tautau Fakamanaia. Wall hanging base on a titi fou, or skirt made from lace bark. Titi fou are woven to wrap around the waist of the wearer and tied securely with braided cords of lau fou attached at the sides of the garment. The width and length of this titi fou indicate it was possible this was made to be a wall hanging. Lau fou fibres of a natural golden colour are woven in a lalaga fakafiti (twill weave) technique to create the upper half of the titi.

    This upper half features several decorative fakamanaia (embellishments) across the woven surface including borders of fou woven in tua moko (accordion plaiting), a lower band of fou hand knotted in a ponopono technique, and flat folded strips. The fibres of the lower half of the titi are left loose and flowing. Titi fou are intended for wearing during dance performances and celebrations. According to Matafele Smith, fou is a resource that is plentiful and grows wild in Niue. In the process of preparing the fibre for weaving, the leaves are cut and bundled. They are then submerged in sea water held down with rocks for approximately seven days wherein the desired fibres loosen and then can be easily stripped away from the rest of the leaves.

  • Place
  • Accession Number
    1931.580
  • Accession Date
    16 Nov 1931
  • Other Id

    16856 (ethnology)

  • Department

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