Tatua

Tiputa. Poncho. Made of rito (young coconut leaf). Woven out in check. The woven rito is bordered with a dyed-red strip of apuraka (stalk of the giant swamp taro) that is hand-sewn around the edges of the woven body using strips of rito. An akaverevere (fringe) is formed with bundles of kiriau (hibiscus fibre) wrapped around a cord, possibly made of rito (young coconut leaf). The akaverevere (fringe) is also hand-sewn onto the woven rito (young coconut leaf), using strips of kiriau (hibiscus fibre). There are eight tassles made of rito (young coconut leaf) formed at the ends of long plaited ties, iri-taki-toru (3-ply plait). Two slits on are on either end of the tiputa. Natural in colour. "37000.2" (ethnology number) is written in black ink on an end of the back of the tiputa. "37000.2 Manihiki" is written in black ink on an end (opposite to ethnology number) of the back of tiputa. Good condition.