Description: Ili. New type of fan. Ili are made in different shapes and sizes. The materials used to make them, as well as any embellishments, vary from natural to synthetic and/or a combination of the two. Ili can be used domestically as well as personally and as an accessory. This ili is made from tuāniu (coconut midrib) and fenū (young coconut epidermis). The fenū is added along with the midrib and half of its length is left hanging while the other half is woven in on one side. The blade is then flipped over and the hanging section of the fenū is threaded up on that side. The border is decorated with a strip of red dyed lau kie (kie fibre). The kau (handle) is long and cylindrical in shape with woven strips of lauhulu (darker pandanus leaf) woven around the outer.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1992.205Accession Date: 07 Aug 1992Description: Ili. New type of fan. Ili are made in different shapes and sizes. The materials used to make them, as well as any embellishments, vary from natural to synthetic and/or a…

Description: Selu. Comb. This particular type of comb may also be referred to as selu la'au (wooden comb). This comb is of Samoa and made for the purposes of adorning the hair, primarily for female but can also be worn by male. Made of wood, this selu is dark brown in colour and has been worked to fineness in depth. It is vertical in nature, by which the lower part has a row of eighteen teeth cut out of the wood. This component is made for hair insertion. The mid-section is of a plain surface, with one side showing an inscription of "11746.E." handwritten in white ink. The upper area plays a decorative role in which there are incised triangular shapes on one side and rows of perforated triangular shapes displayed on both sides of the selu. The top edge is serrated.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Date: 1878Description: Selu. Comb. This particular type of comb may also be referred to as selu la'au (wooden comb). This comb is of Samoa and made for the purposes of adorning the hair, primarily…

Description: Selu. Comb. This particular type of comb may also be referred to as selu la'au (wooden comb). This comb is of Samoa and made for the purposes of adorning the hair, primarily for female but can also be worn by male. It is made of wood material with a dark brown colour and has been worked to a fine depth. It is of a vertical framework and can be perceived as having two primary sections; the shaft in the upper area, often decorated and the teeth in the lower section. The lower section has a row of twenty teeth in which has been cut out of the wood for hair insertion. The upper area is lightly decorated with a framework outlining bold triangular, diamond and square shapes. Lines of repetitive triangular patterns are incised on the borderlines, also cross-sectional and diagonal on face and reverse side of selu. The top surface of the selu has a remnant, indicating a broken and missing component of the complete selu.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1955.121.5Accession Date: 1955Description: Selu. Comb. This particular type of comb may also be referred to as selu la'au (wooden comb). This comb is of Samoa and made for the purposes of adorning the hair, primarily…

Description: 'Ula sisi. Neck ornament. 'Ula is a type of Samoan adornment, worn around the neck. It is worn on special occasions, as part of a dance attire and offered as gifts to family, friends and visitors. This 'ula sisi is made up three types of shells: pule (cowrie shell), brown and white univalves, and black univalves. A sharp implement is used to drill two holes through each shell, enabling it to be threaded onto a fibrous string in sections.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1994.83Accession Date: 26 Apr 1994Description: 'Ula sisi. Neck ornament. 'Ula is a type of Samoan adornment, worn around the neck. It is worn on special occasions, as part of a dance attire and offered as gifts to family,…

Description: Te aluga. Woven pillow. This example of an aluga is cylindrical in shape and woven from lau fala (pandanus leaves) in a single check pattern. There are dyed overlaid fibres of red and black incorporated in a checkerboard pattern called fakatolotolo, seen in five bands across the form. The aluga is weighted, with wadded fibre or other material encased by the outer layer of lau fala. The aluga is portable and would often be used by fishermen in order to wake easily without missing the fishing times. The aluga is used atop a mekei (sleeping mat).

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1939.104Accession Date: 17 May 1939Description: Te aluga. Woven pillow. This example of an aluga is cylindrical in shape and woven from lau fala (pandanus leaves) in a single check pattern. There are dyed overlaid fibres of…

Description: Te mwae. A neck ornament of small cerethrium shells threaded onto commercial fibre. The shells are dusty pink in colour and very small.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1940.3Accession Date: 1940Description: Te mwae. A neck ornament of small cerethrium shells threaded onto commercial fibre. The shells are dusty pink in colour and very small.

Description: Te butu. Small dagger set with shark's teeth. Butu are designed to exact facial injuries to opponents targeting the forehead and the eyes so as to obscure vision or leave visible disfigurement. These small handheld weapons are easily concealed on a person and were often held and used by women. This small handheld knife consists of five wii n bakoa (shark’s teeth) perforated at the base and lashed to a small handle of te kanni (coconut wood). The handle is flat, rounded off at each end and is ovoid in cross section. It is smooth and polished in surface treatment. A series of drilled depressions along the side edge of the handle at one end creates the grooved ridge in which the five wii n bakoa slot in securely lashed with kora (coconut fibre cordage). A small hole is drilled at the grip end with a loop of kora cord threaded through for suspension. The wii n bakoa are natural in colour, while the wooden handle is dark brown in colour.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1940.3Accession Date: 1940Description: Te butu. Small dagger set with shark's teeth. Butu are designed to exact facial injuries to opponents targeting the forehead and the eyes so as to obscure vision or leave…

Description: Rabaraba. Headdress. This would be worn on the head by girls and women. It is made of two material components: te ira (pandanus leaf) and dark brown human hair. It has been made into two woven bands, sealed at each end by sloping wide strips of plain te ira folded and attached with a fine two-ply cord of dark brown human hair. Their ends have been cut like the shape of a swallow's tail, however one layer has been cut short with a staright edge. The woven band shows a square motif pattern repeated across the top and bottom borders. This has been defined by the pale natural colour of the te ira and the surrounding weave of dark brown human hair. The use of dark brown human hair is only evident across the front facing surface of the band. A loose and long strand of hair features at one end of the band. Their shape is similar to that of baraitoa (neck band), however the longer length of the swallow tail-like ends define them as head bands.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1935.119Accession Date: 1935Description: Rabaraba. Headdress. This would be worn on the head by girls and women. It is made of two material components: te ira (pandanus leaf) and dark brown human hair. It has been…

Description: Mat. This mat is rectangular in shape and is woven from a dark and light coloured lou akau (pandanus). The centre of the mat is a rectangular shaped plain and natural coloured lou akau. Surrounding this are squares of thinner strips and finer woven lou akau which have been overlaid with darker lou akau strips to create different patterns. This mat could have possibly been made as a table mat or a hanging decorative mat.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1982.194Accession Date: 31 May 1982Description: Mat. This mat is rectangular in shape and is woven from a dark and light coloured lou akau (pandanus). The centre of the mat is a rectangular shaped plain and natural coloured…

Description: Kiekie. Waist ornament. Kiekie are waist ornaments which are worn by females in Tonga as part of their formal wear. They are also worn by school girls and boys in Tonga as part of their school uniform. Kiekie are traditionally made from natural materials which are sourced locally in Tonga or in villages. However, kiekie can be made from a combination of synthetic and natural materials, or entirely from synthetic material. This kiekie is made with fau (hibiscus) fibres and Lopa (red sandalwood) (red sandalwood) and hana (Job's tears) shells. The waistband is 3 ply plaited fau, along the waistband hangs strands of fau which have alternating sections of hana (Job's tears) and Lopa (red sandalwood) (red sandalwood) seeds strung onto it. The alternating colours and designs makes for a very striking chequered design along the entire length of the kiekie.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1976.73Accession Date: 1976Description: Kiekie. Waist ornament. Kiekie are waist ornaments which are worn by females in Tonga as part of their formal wear. They are also worn by school girls and boys in Tonga as…

Description: Ta'ovala Fanakio. Fanakio waistmat. This ta'ovala is woven entirely from fanakio (fibre) strips, due to its small size it would most likely be for a small child. Fanakio is most prevalent in the island of Niuafo'ou and grows only there. This ta'ovala is smooth, rectangular in shape and a toffee brown colour. The top edge is lined with red fabric and the bottom edge is knotted to form fringing.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1976.73Accession Date: 1976Description: Ta'ovala Fanakio. Fanakio waistmat. This ta'ovala is woven entirely from fanakio (fibre) strips, due to its small size it would most likely be for a small child. Fanakio is…

Description: Kato Pueki. Bag decorated with pueki shells. This is a flat woven bag with shells decorating the entire outside surface. Lou akau (pandanus leaf) strips are woven into a rectangular shape and then fau (hibiscus) fibres are used to knot together the pueki shells in the sia technique around the outside of the bag. There are two handles, woven and cylindrical shape, attached on the inside of the front and back of the kato. Both the front and back of the kato have pueki shells arranged to make the manulua design. This kato would have been made for the tourist trade.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1976.73Accession Date: 1976Description: Kato Pueki. Bag decorated with pueki shells. This is a flat woven bag with shells decorating the entire outside surface. Lou akau (pandanus leaf) strips are woven into a…

Description: Ili. Fan. Ili tū. Spade shaped fan. Ili are made in different shapes and sizes. The materials used to make them, as well as any embellishments, vary from natural to synthetic and/or a combination of the two. Made from launiu (coconut leaf), this ili is woven in a spade shape. The kau (handle) is cylindrical in shape and made from woven laufala (pandanus). The ili itself is thick in depth and has four lines of pink dyed fenū (young coconut fibre) overlaid from the centre to the edge of the ili.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1976.73Accession Date: 1976Description: Ili. Fan. Ili tū. Spade shaped fan. Ili are made in different shapes and sizes. The materials used to make them, as well as any embellishments, vary from natural to synthetic…

Description: Ili lāpotopoto hikifua. Rounded fan with plain edge (i.e. without feathers). Ili are made in different shapes and sizes. The materials used to make them, as well as any embellishments, vary from natural to synthetic and/or a combination of the two. Ili can be used domestically as well as personally and as an accessory. This ili is made from tuāniu (coconut midrib), fenū (young coconut fibre) and it is woven into a rounded shape with dyed purple kanava (Cordata subcordata) bark on the outside edges. The kau (handle) is cylindrical in shape and decorated with black dyed laukie (kie fibre). The front and back of each side are also decorated with overlaid dyed laukie.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1976.73Accession Date: 1976Description: Ili lāpotopoto hikifua. Rounded fan with plain edge (i.e. without feathers). Ili are made in different shapes and sizes. The materials used to make them, as well as any…

Description: Kiekie. Waist ornament. Kiekie are waist ornaments which are worn by females in Tonga as part of their formal wear. They are also worn by school girls and boys in Tonga as part of their school uniform. Kiekie are traditionally made from natural materials which are sourced locally in Tonga or in villages. However, kiekie can be made from a combination of synthetic and natural materials, or entirely from synthetic material. This kiekie is made from fau and is decorated with Lopa (red sandalwood) (red sandalwood), hana (Job's tears), and sialemohemohe (wild tamarind) seeds. The waistband is plaited and hanging rom the waistband are strands of fau which have the seeds strung on. These seeds are strung on to create an overall pattern across the kiekie.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1977.21Accession Date: 1977Description: Kiekie. Waist ornament. Kiekie are waist ornaments which are worn by females in Tonga as part of their formal wear. They are also worn by school girls and boys in Tonga as…

Description: Te mwae te ningoningo. Shell Neck ornament. This mwae (Neck ornament) is made from te ningoningo (land snail) of a yellow colour strung onto cor dof te kora (coconut sennit). Additional te moromoro (trade beads) of a red colour are strung in an alternating pattern. Ningoningo are collected from along shorelines and in damp environments such as rotting coconut leaves. They come in a variety of colours. This mwae te ningoningo is sized for a child to wear.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1936.295Accession Date: 1936Description: Te mwae te ningoningo. Shell Neck ornament. This mwae (Neck ornament) is made from te ningoningo (land snail) of a yellow colour strung onto cor dof te kora (coconut sennit).…

Description: Te mwae te nikabono. Conus shell Neck ornament. The central pendant of this Neck ornament is made from nouo (conus shell) which has been cut from the base of the nouo and shaped into a round disk. The surface of the outward facing side of the nouo is convex, smooth and features a natural dark speckling in the surface spiralling out from the centre. The natural spiralled ridges of the shell show on the underside. This ornamental form of the nouo shell is termed te nikabono. There is a perforation in the disc through which te kora (coconut sennit) is threaded through to suspend the nikabono as a neck ornament. discs of te nana (coconut shell) are cut and ground into a uniformly round shape and strung onto the kora. The pieces of te nana are approximately 9mm in diameter. The pendant of te nikabono (conus shell) is approximately 57mm in diameter. The nouo is off-white in colour with slight darker speckling on the outer surface. The discs of te nana are dark brown in colour.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1936.295Accession Date: 1936Description: Te mwae te nikabono. Conus shell Neck ornament. The central pendant of this Neck ornament is made from nouo (conus shell) which has been cut from the base of the nouo and…

Description: Te Birokai. Rope made from te kora (coconut sennit cordage). This sample of te birokai is twined in 2-ply and measures 38mm in thickness. It is light in weight, highly textured and is light brown in colour. It is used for fishing line for catching large fish. It is wound into a loose circular reel, with one end of the fibre tied into a small loop. This example of te birokai is made from cordage sourced from the processed out husk fibre of moimoto (young, green coconuts). The process to prepare kora begins with splitting away the benu (coconut husk fibre) into four to five long pieces, submerging them in salt water for several weeks, wringing and beating the fibres then rolling strands in small bunches to make rolled pieces called binoka. The binoka are then overlapped and rolled together to create lengths of kora. These lengths are combined together to make thicker cords and rope. The entire process is usually the work of I-Kiribati women to undertake.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1936.295Accession Date: 1936Description: Te Birokai. Rope made from te kora (coconut sennit cordage). This sample of te birokai is twined in 2-ply and measures 38mm in thickness. It is light in weight, highly…

Description: Rabaraba. Headdress. This would be worn on the head by girls and women. It is made of two material components: te ira (pandanus leaf) and dark brown human hair. It has been made into two woven bands, sealed at each end by vertical wide strips of plain te ira folded and attached with a fine two-ply cord of dark brown human hair. Their ends have been cut like the shape of a swallow's tail and their mid-section tacked down so that it extends on both sides of the band. The woven band shows a woven geometric pattern. This has been defined by the pale natural colour of te ira and the surrounding weave of dark brown human hair. The use of dark brown human hair is only evident across the front facing surface of the band. Their shape is similar to that of baraitoa (neck band), however the longer length of the swallow tail-like ends define them as head bands.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1936.295Accession Date: 1936Description: Rabaraba. Headdress. This would be worn on the head by girls and women. It is made of two material components: te ira (pandanus leaf) and dark brown human hair. It has been…

Description: Te nikabono. Conus shell ornament. This nouo (conus shell) is cut from the base and ground into a flat disc perforated near the edge for ornamental suspension. The surface of the outward facing side of the nouo is convex and smooth with the natural spiralled ridges of the shell showing on the underside. The nouo is off-white in colour with slight darker speckling on the outer surface. A small perforation is made near the edge of the disk, and a thin cord of te nimwaerere (human hair and coconut sennit) is strung through, open-ended.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1936.295Accession Date: 1936Description: Te nikabono. Conus shell ornament. This nouo (conus shell) is cut from the base and ground into a flat disc perforated near the edge for ornamental suspension. The surface of…