Dance skirt

The strands of this kilt swirl gracefully when the wearer moves. The Maori prepare the flax fibre using a scraper such as a mussel shell and sometimes it is dyed. Flax garments such as this continue to be worn by men, women and children at social, ceremonial and public performances. Like other valued items the piupiu would have embodied the spirit (mana) of its maker.

Object Summary

Accession Loan No.
81/1964/1/1
Category
Ethnography
Collection Class
Clothing and accessories
Collection Area Region
Australia and New Zealand
Material
flax (phormium tenax)
Common Name
dance skirt
Simple Name
skirt
Production Country
New Zealand
Production Year High
pre 1964

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dance skirt