Waist mat or overskirt, kie fau, of bark fibre, from Tonga; part of the Forster collection (Forster 56; 1886.1.1178)
Waist mat or overskirt, kie fau, plaited from strips of the inner bark of the purau (Thespasia populnea) in such a way as to create a pattern of rectangular holes. A fringe of decoratively plaited tabs of the same material has been sewn on with olonga fibre (Pipturus argenteus). Worn by chiefs
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Mat
Detail of fringe and Ashmolean label
Detail of fringe and Forster label
Microscope image of mat fibre |