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Overview
Headbands, necklaces and garlands are an essential part of many Pacific Island cultures, they are often used as part of dance costumes, given as gifts or worn for special occasions.
A mwaramwar
This is a mwaramwar, a distinctive garland from Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia. Although usually made from colourful flowers and leaves, this example is made from a combination of natural, green and yellow dyed strips of hibiscus bast fibre. It is especially interesting for the use of non-indigenous materials (cigarette filters) in its manufacture.
Acquisition history
This mwaramwar was donated to Te Papa in 2011 by Simeon Kihleng who received it on Guam during Yap Constitution Day 2009. It was presented to him by Robert Ruecho the former governor of Yap.