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Catalog Number

CAS 1991-0011-0016   CAS 1991-0011-0016; 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. 1970s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Mulberry bark; Dyes
Description Rectangular piece of tapa cloth cut from a much larger piece, made by beating strips of paper mulberry bark to paper thin sheets, and overlapping them until the desired width and length was achieved; This piece measures four langanga (hand-measured unit) in length, as indicated by the numbers along its outer borders, and could have been part of a 50 langanga cloth; Overall cloth is divided into rectangular panels of different sizes that extend across the entire cloth in columns and rows; Smaller panels along outer borders are decorated with alternating images of a star with crescent moon and that of a braided fiber lei, with the even-numbered panels also marked with their measurement (e.g., 2, 4, etc.); Remaining width of the cloth is divided into 5 columns of panels (3 smaller panels and 2 wide panels); Each panel in the column adjacent to the border is decorated with the royal seal of Tonga which is rendered rather haphazardly with little attention to complete details; Panels in next column are wide with alternate rows showing a tokelau feletoa design (a chiefly symbol of an elongated lozenge shape) or an series of small contiguous squares topped with row of triangles (symbolism unknown); Small panels in center column are decorated with triangular structure (possibly representing a house) with a rising and/or setting crescent sun on either side; Background of all panels is partially painted brown, with traces of string, indicating that cloth was tied to a working board and secured with sennit fibers as it was being made.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 176.0, Length = 392.0

Catalog Number

CAS 1993-0002-0001   CAS 1993-0002-0001; Tapa cloth
Category Textiles
Object Name Tapa cloth
Culture Polynesian: Tongan
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga
State/Prov./Dist. Vava'u group
County
Other Geographic Data Lua'afuleheu (?)
Maker's Name Sela Taufoou
Date of Manufacture ca. 1990
Collection Name N/A
Materials Mulberry bark; Dyes
Description
Dimensions (cm) Width = ca. 198.0, Length = ca. 420.0

Catalog Number

CAS 1997-0002-0001   CAS 1997-0002-0001; Tapa cloth
Category Textiles
Object Name Tapa cloth
Culture Polynesian: Tongan
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1992
Collection Name N/A
Materials Mulberry bark; Vegetal dyes
Description Extremely large rectangular tapa cloth made from numerous overlapping sheets of tapa; Wide border of rectangular blocks frames 3 edges of cloth, each block painted with large X-motif and alternate blocks along long sides marked with measurements "2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 20, 22, and 24"; Central field of cloth is divided into 68 rectangular blocks, alternately decorated with butterfly motif or column of 3 diamond shapes; Vine motif extends down center of cloth.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 113.2, Length = 400.0

Catalog Number

CAS 2006-0003-0015   CAS 2006-0003-0015; Staff
Category Carvings
Object Name Staff
Culture Polynesian: Tongan (?)
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga (?)
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1973
Collection Name N/A
Materials Wood
Description Probable staff carved from a single piece of wood, with a shaft that is nearly round at its proximal end but becomes more oval shaped toward the distal end; The expanded distal end is carved in the form of a flattened, lily-like flower whose petals are marked all over on the exterior with small carved triangles; On one face of the flower the triangles are arranged in rows and all point in the same direction, while on the opposite face some of the triangles oppose each other and are arranged in three distinct diagonal lines; Entire staff has probably been stained a dark brown.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 16.2, Thickness = 2.6, Length = 81.0

Catalog Number CAS 2006-0003-0016   CAS 2006-0003-0016; Necklace
Category Jewelry & Metalwork
Object Name Necklace
Culture Polynesian: Tongan (?)
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga (?)
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1973
Collection Name N/A
Materials Seeds; Monofilament or fishing line
Description Single strand loop necklace comprised entirely of small dark brown, oval seeds that are strung on monofilament of fishing line; Monofilament line passes back and forth from side to side of the necklace, passing through both ends of the seeds on the interior; Seeds are arranged so they all lie on their edges and form a continuous chain of flower-like units.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 2.0, Thickness = 0.4, Length = ca. 74.0

Catalog Number CAS 2006-0003-0017   CAS 2006-0003-0017; Necklace
Category Jewelry & Metalwork
Object Name Necklace
Culture Polynesian: Tongan (?)
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga (?)
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1973
Collection Name N/A
Materials Seeds; Monofilament or fishing line
Description Single strand loop necklace comprised entirely of small dark brown, oval seeds that are strung on monofilament of fishing line; Monofilament line passes back and forth from side to side of the necklace, passing through both ends of the seeds on the interior; Seeds are arranged so they all lie on their edges and form a continuous chain of flower-like units.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 2.0, Thickness = 0.4, Length = ca. 68.5

Catalog Number CAS 2006-0003-0018   CAS 2006-0003-0018; Necklace
Category Jewelry & Metalwork
Object Name Necklace
Culture Polynesian: Tongan (?)
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga (?)
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1973
Collection Name N/A
Materials Seeds; Monofilament or fishing line
Description Single strand loop necklace comprised entirely of small dark brown, oval seeds that are strung on monofilament of fishing line; Monofilament line passes back and forth from side to side of the necklace, passing through both ends of the seeds on the interior; Seeds are arranged so they all lie on their edges and form a continuous chain of flower-like units.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 1.5, Thickness = 0.4, Length = ca. 63.5

Catalog Number

CAS 2006-0003-0019   CAS 2006-0003-0019; Outrigger canoe model
Category Carvings; Watercraft
Object Name Outrigger canoe model
Culture Polynesian: Tongan
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1973
Collection Name N/A
Materials Wood; Plant fiber
Description Model of a single outrigger canoe, carved and assembled from pieces of lightweight, unpainted wood; Long narrow canoe has a shallow interior and is perfectly flat along the gunwales from bow to stern; The underside of the bow rises gently from the keel and has a small notched projection on the underside near its tip; The underside of the projecting stern rises sharply up from the keel and then gradually points upward and outward; The outer edges of both the bow and the stern are carved with a series of notches; The single outrigger and pontoon is positioned on the starboard side and secured to the canoe with two crossbeams that are lashed to the canoe with sisal string that is looped through two pairs of holes that have been burned through the upper sides of the canoe; Also lashed to the crossbeams are two carved oars or paddles.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 4.7, Width = 13.7, Length = 38.1

Catalog Number

CAS 2006-0003-0020   CAS 2006-0003-0020; Armband
Category Accessories/Ornaments; Basketry
Object Name Armband
Culture Polynesian: Tongan (?)
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1973
Collection Name N/A
Materials Metal: Tin; Pandanus fiber
Description Armband woven of natural and dyed black pandanus strips that are woven in a plaiting technique over a foundation of a metal band (probably cut from a tin can, including the rim); Dyed pandanus strips are wrapped vertically around interior and exterior of metal band and undyed pandanus strips are plaited on exterior in horizontal position, forming a geometric pattern of black and white diamonds alternating with pairs of checkerboard triangles.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 5.5, Max Diam = 10.6

Catalog Number

CAS 2006-0014-0001   CAS 2006-0014-0001; 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. 1970s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Mulberry bark; Dyes
Description Large rectangular tapa cloth made from strips of mulberry bark which have been beaten into long thin sheets which, in turn, have been overlapped to form an even larger sheet; Design field is divided into a series of rectangular blocks arranged in 11 columns and 6 rows; All blocks in a single column are hand painted with the same design or motif; The center column contains a diamond motif repeated over and over, bordered by the words, “KOE HALA PAINI [referring to the Norfolk pines lining the avenue leading to the royal palace at Nukualofa] and OTUPOUTOA; Columns to the left and right of the central column contain the following motifs: lion, Tongan royal seal, dove, and Norfolk pines; Outermost column along each side is undecorated except for the units of measurement [24 to 29; also 10 to 15] from the original cloth from which this large piece has been cut.
Dimensions (cm) Width = ca. 264.0, Length = ca. 355.4

Catalog Number

CAS 2011-0004-0001   CAS 2011-0004-0001; 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 4 langanga (unit of measure generally equal to length from elbow to tips of fingers) that has been cut along three sides from much larger tapa cloth; White border along one edge has also been marked with numbers 25, 26, and 27, indicating its original position within the larger tapa cloth; 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 cross-hatch 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; Several designs are repeated in rows that extend across width of tapa cloth, and include a row of triangles, alternately marked with a single stemmed flower and a single leafed stem; Bordering the band of triangles is the phrase, “KOE SISIMA LEO TUGI” referring to a royal belt; Next design band is filled with terraced diagonal columns of triangles and groups of 3 solid circles, the latter representing fruit of the hea tree; Next design band shows row of airplanes, each marked with the word “KUINISALOTE”; Last design band repeats terraced diagonal columns of triangles and hea fruit.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 205.5, Length = 190.7

Catalog Number

CAS 2011-0004-0002   CAS 2011-0004-0002; 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 large tapa cloth measuring 5 langanga (unit of hand measurement equal to distance from elbow to finger tips) that is made from strips of mulberry bark that have been pounded into thin sheets that have then been overlapped to form an even larger cloth sheet; This section has been cut with a scissors along all four edges, but still includes the original side borders that are marked with the langanga marks of 1 through 5, indicating it has been cut from a much larger tapa cloth; The design field is divided into rectangular blocks, with two blocks covering the entire width of the cloth; Similar blocks are designated across each langanga unit, and each block contains the same motifs: a central kalauni (Tongan royal crown), flanked by 3 (feitu’u (stars) and a crescent on one side and three heleta (swords representing battles fought to unite the islands of the Tongan kingdom) on the other; A small banner with the words “KOE KALAUNI” is also shown beneath each heleta; Inside the numbered borders and extending up the entire length of the cloth is a geometric border that includes the manulua motif (an ancient chiefly motif also known as the “vane swastika”) consisting of a pinwheel like pattern of small triangles, and three large dark brown dots representing the fruits of the hea tree; Same geometric border is also painted down the center of the cloth, separating the two rectangular design blocks in each langanga row.
Dimensions (cm) Width = ca. 259.0, Length = ca. 430.0

Catalog Number

CAS 2011-0004-0003   CAS 2011-0004-0003; 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 Large rectangular four langana (hand-measured length) section of tapa cloth made from strips of mulberry bark that have been pounded into thin sheets which have then been overlapped to form an even larger sheet; Background pattern of parallel brown lines indicates this sheet was made on a worktable which was strung with sennit cordage; Cloth has been cut along all four sides, although one sides includes the original border bearing the markings “20” and “22”, indicating it probably was cut from a much larger cloth that might have measured 50 langana; Design field is divided into rows that extended across entire length of full-size cloth; Starting at the border, each row is decorated with an image of a hala paini (Norfolk pine tree that flanks the road between the Royal Palace and the Royal Tombs in Nuku’alofa, Tonga’s capital), a small bat-like bird, the tokelau feletoa (series of 4 elongated diamond shapes with palm-life design, used as chiefly symbol on Tongan tapa), another row of small bat-like birds, and finally a row of the kalauni (the Tongan royal crown); The row of royal crowns has been cut so that only 1/3 of each crown is actually depicted.
Dimensions (cm) Width = ca. 181.5, Length = ca. 214.0

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 2011-0004-0012   CAS 2011-0004-0012; Bowl
Category Carvings; Vessels
Object Name Bowl
Culture Polynesian: Tongan, Samoan, or Fijian
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga, Samoa or Fiji
State/Prov./Dist. unknown
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1984
Collection Name N/A
Materials Wood
Description Shallow bowl carved from a single piece of wood; Bowl is crescent shaped with a flaring rim along its outer curved side and a vertical edge with flattened rim along its inner side, all supported on 3 cylindrical and one rectangular feet; All surfaces are sanded very smooth and probably stained to enhance the wood’s natural dark brown color.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 5.2, Width = 14.5, Length = 31.5

Catalog Number

CAS 2011-0004-0013   CAS 2011-0004-0013; Bowl
Category Carvings; Vessels
Object Name Bowl
Culture Polynesian: Tongan, Samoan, or Fijian
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga, Samoa or Fiji
State/Prov./Dist. unknown
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1984
Collection Name N/A
Materials Wood
Description Shallow almond-shaped bowl with rounded underside and flaring rim, supported on four short cylindrical legs that taper gradually toward their bases; At one end of the bowl, the rim projects outward to form a wide, flat, triangular handle, whose top surface is decorated with a shallowly carved zigzag border; Similar design extends down center of handle; All surfaces are sanded very smooth and wood is probably stained to enhance its natural dark brown color.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 5.5, Width = 12.0, Length = 31.8

Catalog Number

CAS 2011-0004-0014   CAS 2011-0004-0014; Belt
Category Accessories/Ornaments
Object Name Belt
Culture Polynesian: Tongan, Samoan, or Fijian
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga, Samoa or Fiji
State/Prov./Dist. unknown
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1984
Collection Name N/A
Materials Commercial cloth; Chicken feathers; Aniline dye
Description Belt made up of 8 large pompoms of dyed red chicken feathers, each made by aligning feathers in row, twining them together and then twisting the whole bundle so the twining is concealed in the center of the bundle; Three strips of commercial pale blue cloth are braided together to form a belt, and the feather bundles are spaced along the length of the belt; The fabric strips are tied in a knot at each end.
Dimensions (cm) Width = ca. 23.0, Thickness = ca. 9.8, Length = ca. 82.0

Catalog Number

CAS 2011-0004-0015   CAS 2011-0004-0015; Belt
Category Accessories/Ornaments; Basketry
Object Name Belt
Culture Polynesian: Tongan, Samoan, or Fijian
Global Region Oceania
Country Tonga, Samoa or Fiji
State/Prov./Dist. unknown
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1984
Collection Name N/A
Materials Coconut fiber; Commercial cloth
Description Belt made from pieces of coconut fiber which have been aligned and the outer edges wrapped in commercial black bias or twill tape; Additional pieces of coconut fiber have been cut into teardrop shapes and similarly edged in black bias or twill tape and then four of these shapes have been aligned and sewn together, and finally each group of four have been sewn to the belt so that they hang suspended from the belt; A white metal hook clasp is sewn on the reverse at one end of the belt and a corresponding eye hook is sewn on the front at the opposite end.
Dimensions (cm) Width = ca. 25.0, Thickness = 0.5, Length = ca. 75.0

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 2011-0004-0020   CAS 2011-0004-0020; Headrest
Category Carvings; Tools & Implements
Object Name Headrest
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 Wood
Description Very large U-shaped headrest carved from a single piece of wood; Horizontal portion on which one’s head actually rests is narrow and concave; All surfaces are sanded very smooth, but headrest is completely undecorated.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 14.0, Width = 13.8, Length = 49.8
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