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Object Number
88-51-70/51524
Display Title
Tapa cloth
Descriptions
Object Description
Tapa cloth fragment of a much larger cloth known as ngatu in Tongan or siapo tasina in Samoan. Thin, rectangular cloth made from minimally pounded off-white inner bark. The cloth is composed of two single sheets pasted and beaten together in parallel grain directions. Three of the four edges are cut; one edge retains its original undecorated finishing edge. One side of the cloth is decorated with orange-brown geometric patterns obtained by rubbing on a design tablet and black-brown lines, triangles and circles applied by hand. No beater patterns are visible.
Inventory Description
Tapa cloth, rectangular, brown with painted black geometric design
Classification
- Tapa
Department
Ethnographic
Geography/Provenience/Site Name
Oceania
/
Samoa
Oceania / Tonga
Oceania / Tonga
Materials
Bark, Pigment
Dimensions
Overall: 147 x 63 cm (57 7/8 x 24 13/16 in.)
Quantity
1
Provenance
Collector
Capt. Charles Wilkes
(1838-1845)
Exchange participant
Smithsonian Institution
(1888)
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| PrimaryMedia | Object Number | Title | Classification | Geography/Provenience | SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-2-70/83931 | Tapa cloth |
Tapa
|
Samoa
| |
| 34-137-70/299 | Piece of tapa cloth |
Tapa
|
Niaufo'ou (Tin Can Island)
| |
| 14-23-70/85657 | Tapa cloth |
Tapa
|
Samoa
| |
| 11-2-70/83961 | Hand-painted tapa, Hiapo |
Tapa
|
Niue
| |
| 36-45-70/336 | Piece of brown tapa cloth |
Tapa
|
Samoa
| |
| 18-2-70/D1102 | Tapa cloth |
Tapa
|
Samoa?
| |
| 99-15-70/53900 | Decorated tapa |
Tapa
|
Samoa
| |
| 67-9-70/122 | Tapa |
Tapa
|
Hawaii
| |
| 967-32-70/4634 | Tapa |
Tapa
|
Tonga
| |
| 2000.16.3 | Tapa |
Tapa
|
Tonga
Samoa? | |
| 44-20-70/2266 | Round piece of tapa cloth |
Tapa
|
Samoa
| |
| 77-37-70/11692 | Tapa cloth |
Tapa
|
Pitcairn Island
|