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The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)

Decorative Borders, Pae

Decorative Borders, Pae.

Pae is a general term for the side or edge, but in plaiting nomenclature it has come to definitely mean the coloured borders of the well-made sleeping mats. They form an even band along the edges of the mats and on an page 124average are about four inches in depth. They are made throughout the Lower Cook Group with the exception of Mangaia. Mats are divided into two classes according to the number of decorative bands.

(1).Kaviri Mats.

These have two bands, one at each end. They are made with the twisted side edges described as piu. At either end, before the taviri finish is made, the decorative band is plaited. Koviri is an alternative name for piu and the mat thus receives its distinctive name from the technique of the plain side edges. Fig. 104 shows a koviri mat folded to show the back of one decorative border and the whole of one side edge. Fig. 105 shows more detail of a corner of the same mat.

(2).Paretumu Mats.

In these fine mats each of the four borders has a decorative band, Fig. 106.

The best paretumu mats have double decorative borders on the four sides. The decorative bands are separated by a space which is also decorated by triangle motives, as shown in Fig. 107.