Bark Cloth, Futuna

Douglas Dawson, Chicago
Abraham Rosman and Paula Rubel, New York, acquired from the above on November 18, 1999

Skillfully crafted uniquely by women, bark cloths (often referred to by the Polynesian word tapa) exist in many different varieties and designs. Such cloths are typically made from the soft, inner bark of the Mulberry tree. Each sheet is pounded and felted, then glued together, sometimes creating very long cloths, such as the second tapa pictured in this catalogue (lot 18). Because these objects were both ceremonial and common everyday items, designs and sizes could vary immensely. Smaller textiles were used as garments, while longer cloths were displayed or exchanged during ceremonies such as marriages or funerals. Bark cloths still remain central to ritual life in Polynesia, particularly in areas such as Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa.