i (fan)

This is an i (fan) from Tonga that is made from pandanus leaf. It is decorated with the outline of a flower motif and has a checkered handle. Two white shells are attached to the tip of the fan.

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 History

This I was gifted to Te Papa Tongarewa by Tevita Finau a member of the Tongan community in New Zealand. He presented the i at the opening of the exhibition Tangata o le Moana: the story of Pacific people and New Zealand in 2007. Tevita was a member of the Pacific Advisory Group that Te Papa Tongarewa convened during the development of the Tangata o le Moana exhibition.