Tapa Cloth Item Number: C941 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

The cloth is rectangular with designs covering the entire surface in dark red-brown, brown and black on a natural off-white background. On one side there are squares outlined in black and filled in with large black double triangles and patterned brown backgrounds. The other side shows the exact same designs but painted only in brown on the natural background.

Specific Techniques

A pandanus leaf stamp board (upeti) with sewn on designs was likely used due to curved designs.

Narrative

This tapa was noted as coming from Hawaii by Raley, so it was originally catalogued as Hawaiian. However, Halena Kapuni-Reynolds (Kanaka ‘Ōiwi/Native Hawaiian) said it appears to be of Samoan origin. She also noted that tapas should normally have an off-white border, suggesting this one has been cut.