Identifier:
154992
Description:
Tapa cloth with various rolled pandanus leaf designs.;See web label, Neich's and Pendergast's "Traditional Tapa Textiles of the Pacific," and http://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/minigalleries/tapacloth/intro.html for details. Identified by Carol S. Ivory, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Fine Arts, Washington State University--Pullman; tel: 509.335.7043.;Tapa cloth was once common to many Pacific cultures, although its use has declined somewhat in modern times. It is most often made from the bark of the paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) tree, which is collected and torn into thin strips. The strips are then moistened and pounded together until the cloth is formed. Often, several layers will be pasted together before the cloth is finally decorated. Finished tapa, called siapo in the Samoan islands, were used for many purposes, such as: in ceremonies and rituals, as clothing, for gifts, and also for various household furnishings. The Samoan words siapo tasina refer to a tapa cloth with decorations made by rubbing the tapa over a relief block covered with dye, and then adding a second layer of freehand designs. (When each technique is used alone, the relief rubbing and freehand styles are referred to as siapo mamanu and siapo upeti, respectively.) Common motifs for all three styles include repeating geometric patterns, leaves and plants, stylized animals such as starfish, and shells. In this example, the brown base layer was done with a block, and then the black decorations were painted by hand.
Date:
1973
Materials:
Bark
Dimensions:
52.5" h 54" w
Current Location Status:
In Storage
Collection Tier:
Tier 2
Source:
Gift Of Clausing, Mr. And Mrs. John
Related Entity:
Mr. and Mrs. John Clausing (donor)
Related Place:
American Samoa
