Siapo mamanu (tapa cloth)

About this item

Title

Siapo mamanu (tapa cloth)

Content partner

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Collection

Te Papa Collections Online

Description

The making of barkcloth or tapa was once widespread throughout the islands of the Pacific. Today it is most strongly practised in the west Polynesian island groups of Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. Barkcloth made in Samoa is called siapo. MaterialsSiapo makers use the bark of the u'a (paper mulberry tree) to make their cloth. The bark is carefully peeled off the tree in strips and then the inner bark is separated and scraped clean. It is then pounded until it widens into a larger size

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Format

Image

Date created

1890s

URL

https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/162815

Related subjects

bark cloth / pigment / tapa / coverings / freehand drawing / painting / Sāmoa / Sāmoan / Alexander Turnbull

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