Needle
vor 1900
About the object
The thatching of roofs and the weaving of sails, baskets or mats was one of the central handcrafts performed by women on the Marshall Islands. There are various types of fine tools, each one with a use matching the requirements of handling each material. On display here is a long needle made from ironwood used to sew pandanus leaves together in roof-making. The end pieces are furnished with a carved barbed hook. Once the woven roof was finished, it would be fixed onto the house.