Lot 145
Oceania, Polynesia, Fiji Islands, ca. late 19th century CE. A beautiful example of a hand-carved wooden tapa beater of slender yet sturdy form with a rectangular beating head, a gently tapered midsection, and a dense handle that can withstand countless uses. Two sides of the beater head bear tightly spaced incised grooves, with more broadly spaced grooves on a third face, and a smooth fourth face. The grooves were meant to evenly distribute the force of each blow across the delicate tapa bark so the fibers would remain unbroken, and the smooth face was intended to flatten the fibers back out before another round of beating. Covered in lustrous patina exhibiting hues of mocha, russet, caramel, and burgundy, this is a wonderful example of Fijian utilitarian artistry! Size: 1.3" W x 15.2" H (3.3 cm x 38.6 cm); 17.1" H (43.4 cm) on included custom stand.
Tapa is a type of bark cloth that is made in the South Pacific Islands, mainly Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji, but also as far afield as Hawaii and New Zealand. The cloth is of great social importance and is often given as a gift; however, prior to the introduction of synthetic fabrics, it was also used for everyday wear. Tapa was also introduced to the western world in the late 18th century by Captain Cook's first expedition, where it was collected under the direction of Joseph Banks and brought to Europe.
Cf. The Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa), registration number FE007949
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired from 1995 to 2010
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#168566
- Condition: Small chips to faces of beater head, handle, and midsection commensurate with age and use, with softening to some incised grooves on beater head, otherwise intact and excellent. Great patina throughout. Narrow hole drilled through bottom of handle for mounting and display purposes. Old inventory label beneath handle.
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