Te iriba

Te iriba. Fan. This is a hand held fan. It is made from two material components: two segments of te kakoko (the young white central leaf of the coconut leaf) and the fins of te raku (swordfish; xiphius gladius). It is flat in form and shaped like a spade motif. The handle is hard and provides reinforcement. A braid has been woven around the handle. The edge along the blade is decorated with the dark black skin of te raku. A red earth dyed natural fibred strand that has been dyed using the roots of te non tree (Morinda citrifolia) mixed with lime. It has been used to create a decorative pattern from the top on the same side where te raku skin has been used. The other side of te iriba is plain with no patterned decorations. The base end of the handle shows where a woven encasement has been applied but has become loose. A dark coloured strand of natural fibre has been used to border the woven encasement.