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Pulou

human history
  • Other Name

    Hat (English)

  • Description

    Pulou. Hat. This a handwoven pulou. The brim of this pulou is made of a thin piece of wood that has been curved to form a large circle. On the inside of the brim is a series of three circles made of ofe (bamboo), each decreasing in size the closer they are to the crown. The four circular pieces that make up the brim are connected by four strips of ofe that connect at the tip of the crown. This frame forms a conical shape reminiscent of Chinese origin.

    The frame is then covered with strips of ofe that have been woven using a cross-hatching technique. The frame is also covered roughly by strips of pandanus to cover the small holes between the woven ofe. The outer surface of the pulou has been stained a dark brown, nearly black, colour. The underside of the pulou reveals the true brown colour of the materials used as well as the weaving techniques used to create it. Where the crown meets the brim is yet another circle of woven bamboo that is attached perpendicular to the pulou. This circle acts as a headband that allows the conical pulou to sit comfortably on the wearers head. Attached also to the underside of the pulou are two chinstraps. The smaller of the two straps is made of a black elastic string. While the larger of the two straps is made of wool that has been fili (braided) using a fili lua (two ply braid) technique. This pulou is indicative of the migration of Chinese to Samoa in the late 1800's. A pulou such as this would have been worn as protection from both the sun and rain.

  • Place
  • Accession Number
    1930.474
  • Accession Date
    1930
  • Other Id

    13891 (ethnology)

  • Department
hat, 1930.474, 13891, Cultural Permissions Apply

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