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Te ili

human history
  • Other Name

    Fan (English)

  • Description

    Ili. Fan. This is an ili made of tuaaniu (coconut midrib), laukie (soft pandanus), and fulu kaleva (kaleva feathers). The tuaaniu is braided to form the spine of the blade as well as the handle. The handle is cylindrical in shape and encased in lalaga (woven) laukie. A beige laukie and a black laukie are lalaga to form a checkerboard pattern along the handle. The blade is made of tightly lashed tuaaniu to form a circular shape.

    Kaumoe is used to lash the blade and serves as an interesting decorative feature. Laukie has been dyed a variety of colours, purple, pink and black, and threaded to form a decorative border through the middle of the blade. Fulu kaleva are threaded around the blade using two rows to serve as another distinguishing feature. As in many parts of the Pacific, ili were used to keep cool in the hot weather and presented as gifts to visitors, family and friends.

  • Place
    Funafuti/Tuvalu
  • Accession Number
    1944.81
  • Accession Date
    1944
  • Other Id

    27329 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

Te ili, 1944.81, 27329, Cultural Permissions Apply

Images and documents

Images

  • Te ili, 1944.81, 27329, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te ili, 1944.81, 27329, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te ili, 1944.81, 27329, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te ili, 1944.81, 27329, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te ili, 1944.81, 27329, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te ili, 1944.81, 27329, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • fan

Artefact

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