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Te ili

human history
  • Other Name

    Fan (English)

  • Description

    Ili. Fan. This is an ili made of tuaaniu (coconut midrib), kaumoe (immature coconut leaf), laukie (soft pandanus), vulu (wool), and fulu moa (chicken feathers). The tuaaniu have been braided to form the spine of the blade as well as the handle. The cylindrical handle is then encased in lalaga (woven) laukie and vulu. A natural beige laukie, a red vulu, and a green vulu are lalaga to form a checkerboard pattern along the handle.

    The handle then flares to form a circular blade made of tightly lashed tuaaniu. Thin strips of kaumoe lash the tuaaniu and are a light beige colour. A border made of green, pink and yellow vulu decorates the blade. A second border sits under the vulu border, made of red and yellow laukie. White fulu moa forms a decorative border around the edge of the blade. As in many parts of the Pacific, ili were used to keep cool in the hot weather, and often presented as gifts.

  • Place
    Unknown
  • Other Id

    2011.x.558 (temporary accession number)

  • Department

    Pacific

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