Cape

Item number C1006 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

Data
Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Large woven cloak, or cape, with a wide, curved lower border. The natural-coloured textile has a narrow band across the upper edge with a chevron motif in blue, white and red. Sewn onto the sides are bands with line motifs in light and dark brown. The border along the bottom edge has a large zigzag and diamond motif in brown, red and green.

History Of Use

Kaitaka are cloaks of finely woven harakeke (Phormium tenax) fibre and are among the more prestigious forms of traditional Maori dress. They are made from flax fibre, which is in turn made from those varieties of Phormium tenax that yield the finest quality fibre characterised by a silk-like texture and rich golden sheen. Kaitaka are usually adorned with broad tāniko borders (geometric finger weaving) at the remu (bottom) and narrow tāniko bands along the kauko (sides). The kaupapa (main body) is usually unadorned. [Wikipedia: Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa]