Te tauti (Porcupine) fish helmet

This is a warrior's helmet, made from the dried skin of a porcupine fish (Diodon sp., probably Diodon hystrix), lined with plaited pandanus strips. The skin is oriented so that the tail forms a peak at the back and the two fins form wings on either side. The lining has been partly plaited to fit, like a rounded basket, but then cut and overlapped in three places so that it fits snugly. The base is edged with a roll of plant fibre which has been neatly sewn to the edge of the skin with a blanket stitch in fine twisted cord of light and dark fibres.