Tapa - Lot 129

Tapa Samoa Islands (?), Polynesia 20th century Beaten bark (tapa) Dimensions: 210 cm x 128 cm Chinese mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) and vegetable dyes Samoan tapas are not always stamped using a die, as is the case with Samoan tapas, but decorated freehand on the original white/cream cloth. The dimensions of this example indicate that it is a lava lava tapa, but the more Tongan motifs suggest that it was made for a Tongan islander. Laterally, as well as within the triangles, motifs representing yam stalks appear, and a four-petal flower similar to the "fata'o tui tonga" has been transferred several times, as well as full circular shapes composed entirely of dark pigments. --- Chinese mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) and vegetable tinctures The tapas of the samoas are not always printed with a matrix like these but decorated by hand on the white/cream sheet. The dimensions of this copy attest that it is a lava lava type tapa, however the more tongian motifs allow to indicate that it would have been made for an islander of Tonga. In laterality, as well as inside the triangles appear patterns representing the stem of yam, have been reported several times that of a flower with four petals close to the "fata'o tui tonga", as well as full circular shapes composed of dark pigments.