item details
Overview
This pare (hat) comes from Rurutu in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia.
Construction
The main body of the hat is constructed from woven strips of pandanus leaf arranged and sewn together in a concentric circles to give shape to the crown of the hat. A narrow hat band woven in a different technique runs around the base of the crown and is decorated with a pandanus leaf bow. The hat brim is decorated with an open weave zig zag edging.
Significance
Although this pare is from Rurutu, the donor Jean Chapman-Mason used to have a regular supplier of pare and other woven products within the Cook Islands. However, by the 21st century many people were emigrating to New Zealand or Australia and sellers would not maintain a permanent stall in the markets. People preferred to call in on an irregular basis with their goods to see if Chapman-Mason wanted to purchase anything from them.
Acquisition history
The pare was offered as a gift to Te Papa in 2017 by curator and poet Jean T. Chapman-Mason (Cook Islands/English).