Rabatan te matau. Shank of a fish hook. Cut from the hinge portion of te bwaeao (mother of pearl shell), in a long curved narrow strip so as to include a part of the hinge (to form the thicker proximal end) as well as the area towards the lip of the shell (at the thinner end). The rabatan (shank) is still in the process of manufacture. Once finished, it would have been used within a composite fish hook for trolling. It is smooth in texture with a high degree of shine, particularly on its inner and outer surfaces. The outer surface is multi-coloured. It is white at one end and gradually darkens to purple at the other. The inner surface is white and iridescent with some surface spotting. The thick end of the rabatan (shank) features a small textured section of thin ridges which are stained black and are a natural feature of the hinge portion of te bwaeao. There is also a small circular cavity on the outer surface of the rabatan at the thin end.