Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2011-0004-0005   CAS 2011-0004-0005; Tapa cloth
Category Textiles
Object Name Tapa cloth
Culture Polynesian: Samoan
Global Region Oceania
Country Samoa
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; Natural dyes from bark of mangrove tree (black) and from candlenut soot (dark brown)
Description Small rectangular tapa cloth made from strips of mulberry bark that have beaten into thin sheets that are then overlapped and joined together to form a larger sheet; The entire sheet has been pressed against a wooden pattern board bearing a carved geometric design, in this case that of a large 4-petal flower with a round center that is repeated twice; The design, itself, is best viewed on the reverse side of the cloth; To make the design stand out even more, select elements of the design on the front or top surface of the cloth are overpainted in dark brown and black, using natural dyes made from various plants.
Dimensions (cm) Width = ca. 37.0, Length = ca. 80.0