Skip to main content
Object Number 34-137-70/298
Display Title Piece of tapa cloth
Descriptions
Object Description Small cut decorated tapa cloth section, originally part of a much larger cloth (ngatu). Decorated by rubbing over kupesi and then with additional freehand overpainting in darker brown paint. Long, thin, finely pounded barkcloth 2-3 layers thick with a freehand drawn design on one side. It is made from 11 pieces of cloth which are joined by overlapping and possibly beating the layers together (please see the conservation file for a diagram of joins). The join between the top and bottom layers is tenuous and this is probably a result of manufacture. All edges are cut. The design consists of a thin red-brown geometric line pattern accented by thick dark brown-black lines and dots set against the natural off-white color of the cloth. There is no noticeable beater pattern.
Inventory Description Tapa cloth, rectangular, painted brown linear, geometric designs,
Classification
  • Tapa
Department Ethnographic
Culture
  • Tonga
Geography/Provenience/Site Name
Oceania / Tonga / <State> / Niaufo'ou (Tin Can Island)
Dimensions Overall: 220 x 57 cm (86 5/8 x 22 7/16 in.)
Quantity 1
Provenance
Collector Weld Arnold (1931 - October 24, 1934)
Donor Weld Arnold (October 24, 1934)

Important Note about Historical Language

Collections records may contain language, reflecting past collecting practices and methods of analysis, that is no longer acceptable. The Peabody Museum is committed to addressing the problem of offensive and discriminatory language present in its database. Our museum staff are continually updating these records, adding to and improving content. We welcome your feedback and any questions or concerns you may want to share. Please email us with your comments.

PrimaryMedia Object Number Title Classification Geography/Provenience SHARE
Piece of tapa cloth
34-137-70/299 Piece of tapa cloth
Tapa
Niaufo'ou (Tin Can Island)
Tapa
967-32-70/4634 Tapa
Tapa
Tonga
Decorated tapa
99-15-70/53900 Decorated tapa
Tapa
Samoa
Tapa cloth with brown and black flower-like designs
48-56-70/3129 Tapa cloth with brown and black flower-like designs
Tapa
Samoa
Tapa cloth
43-32-70/2249 Tapa cloth
Tapa
Pago Pago
Tapa cloth
00-8-70/55346 Tapa cloth
Tapa
Eua Island
Sash of tapa cloth, Fijian masi
91-6-70/50769.4 Sash of tapa cloth, Fijian masi
Tapa
Fiji
Bark cloth cut section
990-12-70/5772 Bark cloth cut section
Tapa
Samoa
Barkcloth, tapa cloth, Samoan siapo
999-18-70/5841 Barkcloth, tapa cloth, Samoan siapo
Tapa
Samoa
Piece of brown tapa cloth
36-45-70/336 Piece of brown tapa cloth
Tapa
Samoa
Tapa cloth
11-2-70/83931 Tapa cloth
Tapa
Samoa
Tapa cloth
18-2-70/D1102 Tapa cloth
Tapa
Samoa?