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Woven flax letter holder ; 1898; Rangitikei; 048-1900-455-0002
FromWaimate Museum
Name/Title
Woven flax letter holder
Woven flax letter holder
About this object
This letter holder is delicately woven from whītau flax fibre in the first decade of the 20th century. It's function parallels common domestic items customarily made of Pākehā materials using stitch craft methods, but are made of traditional Maori materials using weaving techniques.
The letter holder has two pockets to hold letters. The front is decorative, the back plain. Rectangular in shape with a pointed top. It has a flax fringe all the way round the edge and a flax cord tied in a bow at the top.
In traditional Māori society, for almost every situation where a container was required, a weaver could manufacture a kete/basket to accommodate that need. For the softest or delicate baskets whītau/flax fibre was used. Whītau, also called muka in some districts, is obtained by stripping leaves of harakere/native flax by scraping with either the edge of a shell or more recently a blunt metal knife. This process exposes the fibres that run the length of the leaves, allowing them to be removed. Sometimes they are softly beaten and/or washed before use.
This letter holder is delicately woven from whītau flax fibre in the first decade of the 20th century. It's function parallels common domestic items customarily made of Pākehā materials using stitch craft methods, but are made of traditional Maori materials using weaving techniques.
The letter holder has two pockets to hold letters. The front is decorative, the back plain. Rectangular in shape with a pointed top. It has a flax fringe all the way round the edge and a flax cord tied in a bow at the top.
In traditional Māori society, for almost every situation where a container was required, a weaver could manufacture a kete/basket to accommodate that need. For the softest or delicate baskets whītau/flax fibre was used. Whītau, also called muka in some districts, is obtained by stripping leaves of harakere/native flax by scraping with either the edge of a shell or more recently a blunt metal knife. This process exposes the fibres that run the length of the leaves, allowing them to be removed. Sometimes they are softly beaten and/or washed before use.
Date Made
1898
1898
Subject and Association Keywords
Kete
Flax
Rangitikei
Kete
Flax
Rangitikei
Subject and Association Description
Made by the Rangitikei Maori about 1889.
Made by the Rangitikei Maori about 1889.
Medium and Materials
Flax
Flax
Technique
Weaving
Weaving
Measurements
Width: 300mm
Length (at longest point): 500mm
Width: 300mm
Length (at longest point): 500mm
Collection
Maori: Taonga Collection
Maori: Taonga Collection
Credit Line
Presented by Mrs A F Palmer
Presented by Mrs A F Palmer
Object Type
Kete
Kete
Object number
048-1900-455-0002
048-1900-455-0002
