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Catalog Number

CAS 2011-0004-0004   CAS 2011-0004-0004; Tapa cloth
Category Textiles
Object Name Tapa cloth
Culture Polynesian: Tongan
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga
State/Prov./Dist. unknown
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1984
Collection Name N/A
Materials Mulberry bark; Dyes
Description Section of tapa cloth measuring 10 langanga (unit of measure generally equal to length from elbow to tips of fingers) that has been cut along two sides from much larger tapa cloth; White borders along two edges are marked with odd numbers 19 through 27, indicating its original position within the larger tapa cloth which probably measured 50 langanga; Fabric is made from strips of mulberry bark that have been beaten into thin sheets and overlapped to make increasingly larger cloth; Background of design field is marked by light brown lines, indicating cloth was wrapped on sennit-covered board as it was made, then designs were marked on one face by pressing cloth against a kupesi or pattern board; Designs were then overpainted in dark brown and/or black; Design field is divided in half down the length of the cloth with a pinwheel-like design known as manulua; Slightly wider version of this same design is repeated along the sides, just inside the white border; Remaining area is filled with four columns of large brown diamond shapes, laid end to end along length of cloth, with each diamond containing three large black dots representing the fruit of the hea tree; An open triangle is appended to each outside edge of each diamond and filled in with various geometric designs; The designs in the appended triangles are repeated along the entire column of diamonds, but each column has a slightly different set of designs.
Dimensions (cm) Width = ca. 487.5, Length = ca. 427.0

Catalog Number CAS 1984-0008-0401   CAS 1984-0008-0401; Tapa beater
Category Textiles; Tools & Implements
Object Name Tapa beater
Culture Polynesian: Tongan
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1920s
Collection Name Rollo Beck Collection (South Pacific)
Materials Wood
Description Elongated rectangular 4-sided tapa beater carved from a single piece of wood; Proximal end is slightly constricted to form a handle; Above the handle the beater gradually expands in width to the squared off distal end; Each of the four faces shows a different pattern: one face is smooth and completely undecorated; the remaining three faces are carved, respectively, with two, three, and four deeply incised, parallel and equally spaced grooves.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 5.7, Thickness = 5.6, Length = 32.5

Catalog Number

CAS 2011-0004-0019   CAS 2011-0004-0019; Tapa pattern board
Category Textiles; Tools & Implements
Object Name Tapa pattern board
Culture Polynesian: Tongan
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga
State/Prov./Dist. unknown
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1984
Collection Name N/A
Materials Pandanus leaves; Coconut fiber; Coconut frond ribs; Unidentified plant fiber
Description Pattern board for decorating tapa cloth, made from a layer of pandanus leaves that are overlapped and seamed together, then overlaid with a layer of coconut fiber; A geometric design drawn in pencil on one face is outlined with coconut frond ribs that are sewn to the backing with a plant fiber; Design on this board is known as tokelau feletoa, a chiefly symbol popular among tapa makers; Design consists of two side-by-side elongated diamonds with zigzag borders and floral-like pattern in the center, all on a herringbone background; When decorating tapa cloth, this board or stencil would be coated with a dye and then the cloth would be pressed against the board, leaving a light impression of the raised design, which in turn, would be overpainted.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 33.4, Thickness = 0.5, Length = 52.0

Catalog Number

CAS 0102-0017   CAS 0102-0017; Bow
Category Weaponry
Object Name Bow
Culture Polynesian: Tongan
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data
Maker's Name
Date of Manufacture
Collection Name N/A
Materials Wood
Description
Dimensions (cm) Max Diam = 2.9, Length = ca. 170.0

Catalog Number

CAS 0102-0005   CAS 0102-0005; Club
Category Weaponry
Object Name Club
Culture Polynesian: Tongan
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture
Collection Name N/A
Materials Wood
Description
Dimensions (cm) Width = 5.7, Thickness = 4.5, Length = 90.7
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