Pare ura

Pare ura. Headdress of a Rakei ura (full dance costume). Made of rauara (pandanus). Front of the headdress (approximately 320mm x 300mm) consists of double layered rauara leaves cut in the shape of an arch with single apex at centre top. The layers are hand-sewn together with threads of rauara. Sides of the headdress consists of rauara leaves. Both the rauara leaves of the front and sides are sewn onto cardboard. These are then hand-sewn, using cotton thread, onto the headband. The headband is decorated with flower representations made of strips of rauara. Each flower representation has a cluster of either 2 or 3 puka seeds. Multiple strands of folded rauara and aravivi (chain) woven from rauara decorate the front of the headdress. A flower representation made of rauara and 3 puka seeds is sewn in the lower-centre of the front of the headdress. Two tassels made of kiriau (hibiscus) are hand-sewn onto either side of the headdress. The threads that are attached to each tassel are decorated with poepoe seeds (Job's tears seeds). The headdress is coated with vanish. "TOKORUA" is handwritten in dark coloured ink on the inside of the headband. "54306.4" is written in black ink on the inside of the headband. "54306.4 Atiu" is written in black ink on the cardboard backing of the front of the headdress. Good condition.