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Catalog Number |
CAS 0102-0019 | ![]() |
Category | Textiles | |
Object Name | House model | |
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; Vegetable fiber | |
Description | ||
Dimensions (cm) | Height = 48.3, Width = 49.5, Length = 31.1 |
Catalog Number |
CAS 0144-0002 | ![]() |
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 | ||
Collection Name | N/A | |
Materials | Mulberry bark; Dyes | |
Description | ||
Dimensions (cm) | Width = ca. 160.0, Length = ca. 175.0 |
Catalog Number | CAS 0423-0103 | ![]() |
Category | Textiles | |
Object Name | Tapa cloth | |
Culture | Polynesian: Tongan | |
Global Region | Oceania | |
Country | Tonga | |
State/Prov./Dist. | unknown | |
County | ||
Other Geographic Data | ||
Maker's Name | Unknown | |
Date of Manufacture | ||
Collection Name | N/A | |
Materials | Mulberry bark; Dyes | |
Description | ||
Dimensions (cm) | Width = ca. 52.0, Length = ca. 93.0 |
Catalog Number | CAS 0423-0104 | ![]() |
Category | Textiles | |
Object Name | Tapa cloth | |
Culture | Polynesian: Tongan | |
Global Region | Oceania | |
Country | Tonga | |
State/Prov./Dist. | unknown | |
County | ||
Other Geographic Data | ||
Maker's Name | Unknown | |
Date of Manufacture | ||
Collection Name | N/A | |
Materials | Mulberry bark; Dyes | |
Description | ||
Dimensions (cm) | Width = ca. 49.0, Length = ca. 95.0 |
Catalog Number | CAS 0423-0105 | ![]() |
Category | Textiles | |
Object Name | Tapa cloth | |
Culture | Polynesian: Tongan | |
Global Region | Oceania | |
Country | Tonga | |
State/Prov./Dist. | unknown | |
County | ||
Other Geographic Data | ||
Maker's Name | Unknown | |
Date of Manufacture | ||
Collection Name | N/A | |
Materials | Mulberry bark; Dyes | |
Description | ||
Dimensions (cm) | Width = ca. 51.5, Length = ca. 94.0 |
Catalog Number | CAS 0423-0106 | ![]() |
Category | Textiles | |
Object Name | Tapa cloth | |
Culture | Polynesian: Tongan | |
Global Region | Oceania | |
Country | Tonga | |
State/Prov./Dist. | unknown | |
County | ||
Other Geographic Data | ||
Maker's Name | Unknown | |
Date of Manufacture | ||
Collection Name | N/A | |
Materials | Mulberry bark; Dyes | |
Description | ||
Dimensions (cm) | Width = ca. 51.0, Length = ca. 94.0 |
Catalog Number |
CAS 0423-0107 | ![]() |
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. 1950s | |
Collection Name | N/A | |
Materials | Mulberry bark; Native dyes | |
Description | Large rectangular tapa cloth, made from strips of mulberry bark which have been beaten to thin sheets and overlapped to form a larger cloth, then painted overall with designs and cut into smaller pieces such as this example; Cloth is divided into 4 parallel vertical panels with various designs repeated on each panel but arranged in a single band across all four panels Beginning along one edge is a plain band that is undecorated except for the numbers "8" and "10" in two of the bands, indicating measurements of the original larger cloth; The next motif is a dove, carrying a pair of leaves in its beak, followed by band of alternating light and dark brown triangles (an ancient chiefly motif also known as the "vane swastika"), then a group of 3 swords (representing the battles fought to unite the islands of the Tongan Kingdom), next the "Royal Crown of Tonga", and finally small groups of stars and a banner reading "KOE KALAUNI" (referring to the royal crown or kalauni). | |
Dimensions (cm) | Width = ca. 194.0, Length = ca. 204.0 |
Catalog Number |
CAS 0554-0001 | ![]() |
Category | Textiles | |
Object Name | Tapa cloth | |
Culture | Polynesian: Tongan | |
Global Region | Oceania | |
Country | Tonga | |
State/Prov./Dist. | ||
County | ||
Other Geographic Data | Island: Tongatapu; Village near Nukualofa | |
Maker's Name | Unknown | |
Date of Manufacture | 1954 | |
Collection Name | N/A | |
Materials | Paper mulberry bark; Native dyes | |
Description | Rectangular tapa cloth made from strips of paper mulberry bark that have been beaten into thin sheets that are then overlapped to form a larger cloth; Design field is divided into 5 columns of equal width running the entire length of the cloth, and each column is subdivided into 4 rectangular blocks (one square block at each end and two elongated blocks toward the center); Smaller blocks at ends of cloth are decorated with paired diagonal bars of contiguous triangles; Larger elongated blocks are decorated with large Norfolk pine motifs, identified below with the words "HALA PAINI" (the avenue of Norfolk pines leading to the royal palace in Nukualofa), and 2 motifs (a row of ribbon-like motifs and a row of single-stemmed plants with teardrop shaped flowers) that represent the sisi, a grass skirt worn over a waist mat; Both motifs are identified with the words "KO E SISI 'O ULUKALALA" indicating the designs commemorate the sisi (woven skirt) of a member of the chiefly family; Orientation of designs in adjacent columns is rotated 180 degrees; Interspersed among the design motifs are large black dots, representing the fruit of the hea tree; All designs are imprinted in a dark brown color and then over-painted in a darker brown or black color; Only areas of the design motifs have been rubbed, so that the surrounding areas are left undecorated; Cloth is cut along both sides, but original measurement markings of "6", "8", and "10" remain along one end. | |
Dimensions (cm) | Width = ca. 237.0, Length = ca. 428.0 |
Catalog Number |
CAS 0568-0001 | ![]() |
Category | Textiles | |
Object Name | Tapa cloth | |
Culture | Polynesian: Tongan | |
Global Region | Oceania | |
Country | Tonga | |
State/Prov./Dist. | Ha'apai Islands | |
County | ||
Other Geographic Data | Foa Island | |
Maker's Name | Unknown | |
Date of Manufacture | 1979 | |
Collection Name | N/A | |
Materials | Mulberry bark; Dyes | |
Description | ||
Dimensions (cm) | Width = ca. 260.0, Length = ca. 466.0 |
Catalog Number |
CAS 1984-0008-0144 | ![]() |
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. 1920s | |
Collection Name | Rollo Beck Collection (South Pacific) | |
Materials | Mulberry bark; Dyes | |
Description | ||
Dimensions (cm) | Width = ca. 416.0, Length = ca. 448.0 |
Catalog Number |
CAS 1984-0008-0360 | ![]() |
Category | Textiles | |
Object Name | Tapa cloth | |
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 | Paper mulberry bark; Dyes | |
Description | Very large rectangular tapa cloth, made from strips of paper mulberry bark that have been beaten into thin sheets, which are overlapped to form the larger cloth; Design field is divided horizontally across center into halves and each half is subdivided into 4 elongated panels near the center and 4 nearly square panels at the ends; The elongated panels, separated by bands of negative zigzags, are decorated with several large motifs including necklaces or leis, fans, and rings with occasional large black dots, representing the fruit of the hea tree, and accompanied by the word "FAKALALA O PILOLEVU", referring to the named design "fakalala"; Each elongated panel is bordered on one end by a band of fern or palm-like motifs that are accompanied by the word "SISI O APUO PILOLEVU"; Square panels at each end of cloth are undecorated, except for measurement markings; All design motifs are applied with a kupesi or rubbing tablet and then over-painted in dark brown; Only the area around the kupesi and the actual motif were rubbed, leaving the surrounding areas of the cloth a natural off-white color; Series of narrow parallel brown lines in background around motifs indicates cloth was made on worktable that was strung with sennit cord; Cloth has been cut along both sides. | |
Dimensions (cm) | Width = 198.0, Length = 455.0 |
Catalog Number |
CAS 1989-0015-0005 | ![]() |
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 | ||
Collection Name | N/A | |
Materials | Mulberry bark; Vegetal dyes | |
Description | ||
Dimensions (cm) | Width = 180.0, Length = 270.0 |
Catalog Number |
CAS 1990-0006-0001 | ![]() |
Category | Textiles | |
Object Name | Tapa cloth | |
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 | N/A | |
Materials | Paper mulberry bark; Native dyes | |
Description | Very large rectangular tapa cloth made from strips of mulberry bark that have been beaten into thin sheets, which were then overlapped to form a larger cloth; A background of narrow parallel brown lines indicates the cloth was prepared on worktable that was strung with sennit cord; Design field is divided into 20 rectangular panels arranged in 4 columns and 5 rows; Each row of panels includes 2 narrow panels and a slightly wider panel in the center and along each side; One column of narrow panels is decorated with a motif that resembles a belt with 3 discs on a double chain; The other column of narrow panels is decorated alternately with violin and guitar motifs; In the columns of wider panels, each panel is decorated with one of three different motifs representing hand fans, interspersed by large black dots, representing the fruit of the hea tree; All designs have been stamped onto cloth, probably using a wooden kupesi or rubbing tablet, and then they have been over-painted on front face of cloth; On the narrow panels only the areas around the motifs were rubbed, leaving the surrounding areas a natural off-white color, while on the wider panels the entire area was rubbed, transferring both the motif and the background pattern of parallel lines from the cordage wrapping; "KOE LETA O MALIA MOE KITA" is repeated 2 1/2 times as part of the design along one side of cloth, referring to the belt (leta) and guitar (kita) motifs; Cloth has been cut along all four sides from much larger cloth. | |
Dimensions (cm) | Width = 169.0, Length = 237.0 |
Catalog Number |
CAS 1991-0011-0016 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 2006-0014-0001 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 “KUINISALOTEâ€; 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 | ![]() |
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 swastikaâ€) 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 | ![]() |
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 “22â€, 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 |
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