Tiputa

Tiputa. Poncho. Made of rito (young coconut leaf). Woven out in check and incorporating putaputa (many holes) designs throughout the tiputa. The woven rito is bordered with akaverevere (fringe) formed with bundles of rito strips wrapped and knotted around a cord. Pipi shells are threaded onto the edges of the fringed border and woven rito. The edges of the collar are decorated with two rows of yellow pupu (shells). This is further decorated with eight tiare (flower) representations made of yellow and brown pupu. These are incorporated into the two rows of pupu. There are twelve tiare (flower) representation made of pupu threaded across the tiputa, using strips of rito. Three tiare are missing pupu. A braid, iri taki a (4-ply braid) is threaded through the tiputa, forming two ties, with rito aka tautau (tassles). "45470.3 pres Nieukerke" is written in black ink on the under surface near the edge of the woven area. "45470.3" (ethnology number) is written in black ink on the under surface near the edge of the woven rito. Natural in colour. Good condition.