Nauru

String figures from the Pacific Island nation of Nauru (nah-oo-roo) are often billed as the most elaborate designs ever created. Fifteen are illustrated in Jayne’s book. Honor Maude’s Nauru book includes instructions for making many more. One would assume that Nauruan construction methods are complex and difficult to master, but in reality they are rather straightforward.

Ten years ago Joseph D’Antoni wrote an article for the ISFA Bulletin called “Variation on Nauru Island Figures.” In it, he demonstrated that classical Nauruan figures typically begin with movements that create the center of the design:



Once the center is formed, a finishing sequence is applied to add flanking diamonds and make the figure easier to display. D’Antoni shows how various beginnings can be combined with various finishing sequences to create dozens of intricate designs with very little effort:



Four traditional finishing sequences are used in Nauran figures:

Small Amwangiyo

Amwangiyo

Nauru Ending

Eongatubabo

Caroline Extension is used with some of these sequences to display the finished pattern.

Read Honor Maude's Book


File:Honor_Maude_The_string_figures_of_Nauru_Island.pdf