A SAMOA ISLANDS TAPA CLOTH

The volcanic soil of some atolls in the Southern Cook Islands was fertile ground for tapa-making trees, particularly paper mulberry, but also banyan and breadfruit trees.
Decorating the finished tapa was done with freehand painting, immersion in dye baths, or it was cut with designs in a patterned motif.
In the Cook Islands, as elsewhere in Polynesia, making bark cloth was done by women.

Cook Islands, Polynesia
Tapa and natural pigments
Size: 108 x 172 cm
19th century
Samoa Islands, Polynesia
Provenance: Philip Goldman, London

Price:  €  1.800,-