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Collections Online

Collections record

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bark cloth

On display
human history
  • Other Name

    hiapo (Niuean)

  • Description

    Square piece of bark cloth. circular design radiating out from centre.

    White tapa decorated in black. Predominantly leaf patterns with circular panels of geometric designs. At centre is circular area with geometric designs within.

  • Place
    Niue
  • Accession Number
    1944.47
  • Other Id

    27292 (ethnology)

    55179 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

  • Display Room

    Pacific Masterpieces

Images and documents

Images

Artefact

  • Display location

    Pacific Masterpieces

  • Public Access Text

    'There is virtually no information available on ancient Niuean tapa, except for Williams' mention of an old man wearing "a narrow strip of cloth", and no examples of early pieces have survived in collections. This square hiapo is divided into concentric circles which are almost entirely filled with fine hand-painted black patterns depicting plant motifs. Small stars, leaf shapes and a small fish are used as space fillers.' Neich and Pendergrast, 'Pacific Tapa', 1997.

  • Place
    Niue
  • Signature/marks

    A.T.ULELI (written)

  • Media/Materials

    bark cloth

  • Measurement Description
    1920mm length x 1730mm width
  • Measurement Reading

    1900mm

    1780mm

  • Classification

    Bark Cloth

    Textileworking T&E

    Tools & Equipment

  • Last Update
    20 Aug 2021
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