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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 thick and stiff.

    There is a thick border lining the inside edge and it is made up of intricate geometric designs. There is a main panel inside the border that is also made up of squares and intricate painted geometric designs.

  • Place
  • Accession Number
    1994.5.1
  • Accession Date
    10 Jan 1994
  • Other Id

    54703 (ethnology)

  • Department
Gatu, 1994.5.1, 54703, Cultural Permissions Apply

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