rubbing tablet

Kupesi. Patterned rubbing board. Kupesi are patterned rubbing boards that are used to transfer patterns on to ngatu (tapa cloth) by placing the feta'aki(plain ngatu) on top and rubbing over it with a koka (red coloured natural dye). Kupesi can refer to the rubbing tablet themselves as well as a general name for Tongan designs. There are many different kupesi and they each have individual names and meanings behind them. This kupesi is triangular in shape, the base is made from layers of kaka (coconut sheath). tu'aniu (coconut midrib) is used to make the kupesi shapes on the base and it is secured into place with pulu'i niu (coconut husk) and fau (hibiscus) fibres.