AY Honors/Tapa Cloth/Answer Key

Tapa cloth (or simply tapa) is a bark cloth made in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, primarily in Tonga and Samoa, but as far afield as Java and Hawaii.

The cloth is known by a number of local names, although the term tapa is understood throughout the islands that use the cloth. In Tonga, Tapa is also known as Ngatu, and here it is of great social importance to the islanders, often being given as gifts. In Samoa, the same cloth is called Siapo, in Fiji it is called Masi. In Hawaii, it is known as kapa, the two words ta and pa beaning "The beaten object". This is probably close to the original meaning of the broader term to which it appears similar.

Tapa is made by a variety of different methods, of which that used in Tonga is fairly typical. here, tapa is made from Paper Mulberry tree bark which is stripped from the tree and sun-dried before being soaked. After this, the bark is beaten on wooden tutua anvils using wooden mallets called ike. After beating, the cloth is placed on dyed wooden blocks for the application of traditional patterns in horizontal bands across the cloth, before it is again dried. After drying, details are added to the patterns by hand using brushes.

The patterns of Tongan, Samoan, and Fijian tapa usually form a grid of squares, each of which contains geometrical patterns with repeated motifs such as fish and plants, for example four stylised leaves forming a diagonal cross. Traditional dyes are usually black and rust-brown, although other colours are also known.

The cloth is primarily used for clothing, although it is also highly prized for its decorative value and is often found used as wall hangings.

External links

• New Zealand Ministry of Pacific island Affairs - Tapa in Tonga
• Kew Gardens bark cloth webpage
• Tapa cloth
• Website about Pacific Tapa and Pacific Art