Tapa is a type of barkcloth made within the Pacific Ocean, throughout Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Java, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Niue, Futuna and Vanuatu.
Made from the stripped fibres of the paper Mulberry tree
Tapa is often decorated by rubbing, stamping, stencilling, smoking (Fijian: masi kuvui, "smoked barkcloth") or dyeing.
The history of Tapa has many different names across the Pacific Oceans and many different histories between them, ranging from ceremonial pieces that were passed on as gifts for ceremonies and weddings or used as clothing. This piece however was made for the tourist market where large pieces of Tapa would be made for tourists to purchase and hang in their homes. This piece has been signed by the maker ‘Elisapeta’
C.1940’s
This piece is very fragile and has many holes and tears. This item should ideally be framed and hung to preserve it.
115×160cm
Tapa is a type of barkcloth made within the Pacific Ocean, throughout Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Java, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Niue, Futuna and Vanuatu.
Made from the stripped fibres of the paper Mulberry tree
Tapa is often decorated by rubbing, stamping, stencilling, smoking (Fijian: masi kuvui, "smoked barkcloth") or dyeing.
The history of Tapa has many different names across the Pacific Oceans and many different histories between them, ranging from ceremonial pieces that were passed on as gifts for ceremonies and weddings or used as clothing. This piece however was made for the tourist market where large pieces of Tapa would be made for tourists to purchase and hang in their homes. This piece has been signed by the maker ‘Elisapeta’
C.1940’s
This piece is very fragile and has many holes and tears. This item should ideally be framed and hung to preserve it.
115×160cm
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