Tā'iri (fan)

This ta'iri (fan) is attributed to Manihiki in the northern Cook Islands and was probably made in the early 1950s. This circular ta'iri is made from coconut midribs, wood, kiriau (hibiscus tiliaceus), and pandanus leaf. Its open-weave structure consists of concentric bands of coconut midribs covered in natural and purple-dyed pandanus leaf in a triangular pattern. A large number of tassels decorate the outer rim of the main body. Some of these tassels are made up of bands of kiriau. The circular wooden handle has broken from the central mid-point where the handle joins onto the main body of the ta'iri. Loosely tied around the handle is plaited natural and purple-dyed pandanus leaf. A brown paper label, which has been sewn onto the fan with blue thread, reads 'A Merry Xmas To Mrs E Paterson, from Tuaine.'

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 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.

Acquisition

This ta'iri was presented to the National Museum (Te Papa's predecessor) by Mrs J Paterson in 1954.