#52 • Pacific Islands Tapa Bark Cloth

Part of Professor’s Collection Part One: Pacific & Pre-Columbian Artifacts (live auction by Blue Box Auction Gallery)

High bid $65.00

Status: Sold

Estimated Value: $100-300 Origin: Samoan, 19th or 20th Century,  also can be found in the Pacific Islands, Fiji, Tonga, or Hawaii Dimensions: 58x71in Condition: Some fraying along the edges and a small hole in a seam of the fold.  Additional Information: A Tapa bark cloth from Samoa created by stripping the bark from mulberry trees, soaked and beaten until soft and thin. Pieces are joined together to make larger sheets. The cloth is dried and decorated using paints and dyes in geometric or floral patterns. The design was passed down from generation to generation.  The Tapa cloth is used for clothing, mats, room dividers. and for ceremonial purposes such as weddings and funerals. The tapa cloth is not unique to Samoa and can be found throughout the Pacific Islands. Each Island has their own name for the Tapa cloth. Ngatu is Tonga, siapo is Samoan, masi is Fiji, and kapa is Hawaiian.