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Gatu

human history
  • Other Name

    Bark cloth (English)

  • Description

    Gatu. Bark cloth. Gatu were most commonly made by men in Uvea mo Futuna. It is made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree which has been stripped, beaten and patched together to create a plain textile. This is then dyed and rubbed with a natural pigment made from togo (mangrove) or kele'uli (clay), and then painted with a black dye made from tuitui (candlenut) soot. This gatu is rectangular in shape and is stiff and thick.

    It has a thick border lining the edge and it is made up of intricate painted geometric designs. The inside of this border features repeated motif called poi and it is a design that represents the church where Peter Chanel was buried in Uvea. The surface is polished and shiny.

  • Place
    Futuna/Wallis and Futuna
  • Accession Number
    1994.5.2
  • Accession Date
    10 Jan 1994
  • Other Id

    54704 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply

Images and documents

Images

  • Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Gatu, 1994.5.2, 54704, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • barkcloth
  • barkcloth

Artefact

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