Description:

Oceania, Polynesia, Tonga, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden tapa beater of a lengthy form with a sturdy rectangular head, a tapered neck, and a slightly flared handle. Two of the beater faces are smooth, with one bearing wide-set vertical grooves, and the other with more closely arranged vertical striations. The entire tool is enveloped with lustrous layers of caramel, coffee, and burnt umber patina. Tapa beaters like this example were used to pulverize bark sheets from the tapa tree into pliable lengths of tapa cloth. Size: 12" L x 2.25" W (30.5 cm x 5.7 cm)

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#141420

  • Condition: Minor nicks and abrasions to handle and beater head, otherwise intact and very good. Great patina throughout. Old inventory label on neck and atop head.

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June 22, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000