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The product is a vintage framed Tapa bark cloth piece, handmade in Polynesian style. The large size of 13" x 19" adds a unique and eye-catching element to any collection. The piece showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Pacific Islands, making it a valuable and culturally significant item for collectors interested in Polynesian art and artifacts.
The legend on the back side describing the art is torn. But this is what it would say“Tapa making is a living art in Polynesia. Tapa cloth is a material made from the papery inner bark of the paper mulberry tree. Once worn as everyday clothing, Tapa is now worn and used for ceremonies.
With wooden mallets and much patience, women beat, pound, and flatten the strips of bark, fusing pieces into Tapa cloth with starch from the arrowroot.
Using carved patterns or raised designs, the cloth is rubbed with dye obtained from roots and bark. Each piece, large or small, is unique, an ancient and beautiful example of Polynesian art.”
