Description: Mo'o mo'o. Plain untreated bark cloth. This is a length of beaten and dried baste from the tree bark of Wauke (Paper mulberry tree; Broussonetia papyrifera). Its colour is a natural off white and grey tone with some brown stains. The edges are frayed. There are numerous holes in the mo'o mo'o that define where shoots were present before being removed from the tree trunk. The outer tree bark has been scraped and then the baste has undergone its first fermentation treatment. Its memory suggests it has been bundled and soaked for a period of time. The size of its width shows how it has undergone the first stage of beating. This could have been through the use of a hohoa (round and smooth beater) upon a kua pōhaku (stone anvil). This stage serves to produce a pliable baste. Once the fibre has undergone these initial stages it becomes mo'o mo'o. Its form suggests it has been rolled together for storage until future preparation for the next stages of beating, fermentation and surface decoration.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Date: 1894Description: Mo'o mo'o. Plain untreated bark cloth. This is a length of beaten and dried baste from the tree bark of Wauke (Paper mulberry tree; Broussonetia papyrifera). Its colour is a…

Description: Coaster. An octagon shaped coaster made of cork with a picture of a hei tiki on the front.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 2015.100.600Accession Date: 23 Nov 2015Description: Coaster. An octagon shaped coaster made of cork with a picture of a hei tiki on the front.

Description: cork ring, 2/3 of only, hole in centre

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Date: UnknownDescription: cork ring, 2/3 of only, hole in centre

Description: flask with cork stopper

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Date: UnknownDescription: flask with cork stopper

Description: cork from champagne bottle

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1999.50.63Accession Date: 22 Dec 2023Description: cork from champagne bottle

Description: small cork from salad oil bottle

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1999.50.62Accession Date: 22 Dec 2023Description: small cork from salad oil bottle

Description: hat band, for inside of hat, cork

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYDescription: hat band, for inside of hat, cork

Description: Painting, bark

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1994.59Accession Date: 17 Mar 1994Description: Painting, bark

Description: Bark painting

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1988.222Accession Date: 15 Nov 1988Description: Bark painting

Description: Bark painting

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1988.222Accession Date: 15 Nov 1988Description: Bark painting

Description: Bark painting

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1994.59Accession Date: 17 Mar 1994Description: Bark painting

Description: birch bark canoe, 30 transverse ribs over longitudinal splints, outer surface covered with bark, sewn seams coated with resin, 5 thwarts at gunwale level

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1993.91Accession Date: 03 Jun 1993Description: birch bark canoe, 30 transverse ribs over longitudinal splints, outer surface covered with bark, sewn seams coated with resin, 5 thwarts at gunwale level

Description: Siapo ofu. Tapa bodice; bark cloth bodice; Siapo pi. This is a type of clothing worn by women across the top half of the body. It has been sewn from a patterned Siapo. The Siapo cloth used to construct this bodice has been decorated with brown dyes sourced from the natural environment. It portrays siapo 'elei (relief printing) which can be seen upon the reverse. The exterior surface of the shows some degree of siapo mamanu (free-hand painting) which can be defined by the strokes of dark brown dye that portray a slight shine. The bodice portrays two short puffy sleeves and has been left open from the centre. A cluster of cut serrated ribbons of siapo have been used to embellish and portray a wide frill across the nape of the neck opening. Sewn seams can be seen from the interior of the bodice. The style of the bodice portrays European influences.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Date: [1929]Description: Siapo ofu. Tapa bodice; bark cloth bodice; Siapo pi. This is a type of clothing worn by women across the top half of the body. It has been sewn from a patterned Siapo. The…

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.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 2003.26.1Accession Date: 02 May 2003Description: 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…

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 looks like it is half of a bigger gatu. The edges are fringed with thin strips and the bottom edge has thicker fringe strips. There are intricate brown and black painted geometric designs on the front of the gatu.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1958.57.98Accession Date: 27 May 1958Description: 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…

Description: Siapo. Tapa; bark cloth; siapo vala. This is a flat and rectangular beaten textile referred to as siapo vala as a result of its size and the notion of its purpose in being presented during formal ceremonies upon larger significant textiles such as 'ie toga (fine mats). The cloth itself is made from u'a (Paper mulberry tree). Decorative dyes that have been sourced from the natural environment have been applied through the use of siapo 'elei (relief printing) and siapo mamanu (free hand painting method). The surface of the siapo vala portrays a decorative repeat pattern that is made up of geometric shapes. Siapo 'elei has been applied to the cloth first. This is defined by the light brown tone upon the off-white cloth. Siapo mamanu has then been applied to define the dark brown triangular blocks. The reverse of the Siapo vala shows the definitions of the initial use of siapo 'elei.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1999.189.6Accession Date: 05 Nov 1999Description: Siapo. Tapa; bark cloth; siapo vala. This is a flat and rectangular beaten textile referred to as siapo vala as a result of its size and the notion of its purpose in being…

Description: Ngatu. Bark cloth. Ngatu (bark cloth) is an essential and important part of the Tongan culture, it is often gifted and exchanged within families or at 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 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, they 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 dye 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 is a roll of feta'aki that has not been made into a larger ngatu. It is light in colour and very thin in depth. There is evidence of patchwork to cover holes and tears on the surface.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1990.228Accession Date: 28 Sep 1990Description: Ngatu. Bark cloth. Ngatu (bark cloth) is an essential and important part of the Tongan culture, it is often gifted and exchanged within families or at wider community events…

Description: Siapo mamanu. Freehand tapa; barkcloth. This is a square piece of siapo. It has been made from a beaten cloth acquired from the baste section of a tree source. Its entire surface decoration has been applied with the technique of siapo mamanu (free-hand painting). It features a border that consists of triangular and diamond shaped geometric patterns. Within the border are two larger flower-like motifs framed within a diamond. These have been further framed by other geometric designs that are characteristic to Samoan siapo. A number of coloured dyes acquired form the natural environment have been applied to form the red, black and yellow colours. The reverse appears to have been patched together by segments of other siapo that show siapo 'elei (relief printing method) and mamanu. The designs differ across each segment used to line the reverse.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1971.164Accession Date: 1971Description: Siapo mamanu. Freehand tapa; barkcloth. This is a square piece of siapo. It has been made from a beaten cloth acquired from the baste section of a tree source. Its entire…

Description: 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.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1971.46Accession Date: 1971Description: 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…

Description: Siapo. Tapa; bark cloth. This is a segment that has been cut from a larger piece of siapo. It portrays a fringe along the lower and right edges. It shows surface illustrations that have been applied by hand with a dark brown, almost black dye that would have been sourced from the natural environment. One half of the illustration shows diagonal lines within a frame. Both their spaces show a surface pattern of small circular motifs. Inside of the hand drawn lines, a series of motifs that appear plant-like or in the shape of a fleur-de-lys that line the edges.

Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1992.138Accession Date: 18 Jun 1992Description: Siapo. Tapa; bark cloth. This is a segment that has been cut from a larger piece of siapo. It portrays a fringe along the lower and right edges. It shows surface illustrations…