bark cloth

Ngatu. Bark cloth. Ngatu (bark cloth) is an essential and important part of the Tongan culture, it is often gifted and exchanged within families and wider community events and functions such as weddings, funerals and birthdays. There are different ranking ngatu as well as different sizes of ngatu, with some even spanning the length of a football field. Tonga is known for producing the largest bark cloths in Oceania. Ngatu is made from the bark of the hiapo (paper mulberry tree). The bark is stripped from the tree and then the inner and outer bark are separated. The inner bark or tutu is then beaten in pairs until the desired width and depth is achieved, these larger pieces are called feta'aki. When a number of these have been produced, the are then glued and joined together to form long rolls which are then rubbed with dye and imprinted with designs from a kupesi (patterned rubbing board). After this has all dried, these designs will be painted over in black ink which is made from the soot of tuitui (candlenut). The kupesi (designs) are all dependant on the makers, where they're from and also the occasion for which the ngatu is being made. This ngatu is rectangular in shape and smooth on the surface. The edges are lined with a plain black border, in each corner there are two repeated kupesi (the names are yet to be identified). The main central design is the seal and flags of Tonga.