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Tapa

Arts of the Pacific Islands

On View:
MEDIUM Barkcloth, pigment
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
DATES late 19th–mid 20th century
DIMENSIONS 45 1/16 in. (114.5 cm) framed: 50 3/8 × 54 5/16 in. (128 × 138 cm) frame: 54 1/4 × 50 1/4 × 1 3/4 in. (137.8 × 127.6 × 4.4 cm)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 61.119.32
CREDIT LINE Gift of Lillian M. Oakman
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Round tapa cloth broken up into four circular bands of rectangles enclosing two head-on triangles which themselves enclose a series of slanted black lines. Alternating with the rectangular bands is a band enclosing thick, curved yellow and black lines and stylizing brown leaf forms defined by thin black lines; two bands enclose brown and yellow triangles separated by black zig-zag lines. The central portion of the tapa is a black star-shaped form the center of which consists of two yellow head-on triangles surrounding the form are stylized leaves of black and yellow. The stylized plant and geometric forms are typical of tapa decoration in this area. Condition: Abrasions: center; left-second, third and fourth band; right side-through bands one and two and band four.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Possibly Tongan. Tapa, late 19th–mid 20th century. Barkcloth, pigment, 45 1/16 in. (114.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Lillian M. Oakman, 61.119.32. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.61.119.32_view01.jpg)
IMAGE overall, CUR.61.119.32_view01.jpg., 2018
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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Possibly Tongan. <em>Tapa</em>, late 19th–mid 20th century. Barkcloth, pigment, 45 1/16 in. (114.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Lillian M. Oakman, 61.119.32. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.61.119.32_view01.jpg)