Rabaraba

Rabaraba. Headdress. This would be worn on the head by girls and women. It is made of two material components: te ira (pandanus leaf) and dark brown human hair. It has been made into two woven bands, sealed at each end by sloping wide strips of plain te ira folded and attached with a fine two-ply cord of dark brown human hair. Their ends have been cut like the shape of a swallow's tail, however one layer has been cut short with a staright edge. The woven band shows a square motif pattern repeated across the top and bottom borders. This has been defined by the pale natural colour of the te ira and the surrounding weave of dark brown human hair. The use of dark brown human hair is only evident across the front facing surface of the band. A loose and long strand of hair features at one end of the band. Their shape is similar to that of baraitoa (neck band), however the longer length of the swallow tail-like ends define them as head bands.