ili (fan)

This is an ili (fan) made from plant material densely woven onto a coconut midrib structure. It is attributed to Tokelau and was probably made in the 1960s.

Form and function

Hand held fans are made throughout the Pacific Islands. People use them to keep cool in hot weather, they present them as gifts and sell them to tourists as souvenirs. They also use them decoratively as ornaments, and display them in their homes. In performances, dancers often use fans as accessories, to complement their costumes and accentuate their body movements. People make fans from a range of materials including coconut and pandanus leaf, barkcloth (tapa) and wood. They embellish them with shells, beads, feathers, paints and dyes. The decorations can be pictorial and include text such as names of people, places or events.

This fan is part of a larger collection of artefacts accumulated by Frank Corner, a New Zealand diplomat who worked in London as Deputy High Commissioner between 1952 and 1958 and later in the Pacific Islands. In 1961, Corner became New Zealand's Ambassador to the United Nations. He chaired the Trusteeship Council for two years, and served on the United Nations Security Council. Corner was the leading proponent of decolonisation of Pacific territories under New Zealand control, and provided the leading intellectual arguments in favour of decolonisation of Tokelau, the Cook Islands, Niue, and Western Samoa.

Acquisition History

In 2018, this collection was donated to Te Papa by Victoria Corner.