{"product_id":"vintage-polynesian-framed-tapa-cloth","title":"VINTAGE POLYNESIAN FRAMED TAPA CLOTH","description":"\u003cp\u003eVINTAGE POLYNESIAN FRAMED TAPA CLOTH If post is up, this vintage (1960s) framed polynesian Tapa is available for sale and pick up in Palm Springs. Pacific Islands Tapa Cloth 60.00 USD. Cash sale Pacific Islands Tapa Cloth, unknown origin and age As early as the sixth century B.C., trees of the Moraceae family were used to produce a bark cloth in Asia. The preferred species, Broussonetia papyrifera or paper mulberry was later introduced into the Pacific islands, particularly Polynesia where the art of decorated bark cloth, tapa, flourished. Known as \"siapo\" in Samoa or \"ahu\" in Tahiti, the present term was most likely derived from the Hawaiian word \"kapa\" (pronounced \"tapa\") meaning \"the beaten.\" Tapa, a prized commodity, was the chief item of trade amongst the islanders and with Western explorers. By the late 19th century, there was a sharp decline in tapa production, though islands like Samoa continued its manufacture for export trade. The production of bark cloth was a lengthy process involving the entire community. Men harvested the paper mulberry trees, stripping the bark from trees and soaking it in water. With grooved wooden beaters, the women would pound the pulp which would soften and expand it several inches, knitting the fibers together resulting in a thready woven appearance. Several strips of bark cloth were pasted together with arrowroot to make a stronger tapa or beaten, slightly overlapped, to make wider pieces. Once dried, dyes prepared from primarily vegetable sources would be applied in elaborate patterns that spoke of an island's creative style. Often commented on in expedition journals, the most spectacular color was a brilliant red obtained by combining two plants which alone had no tendency toward red (Cordia sebestena and Ficus tinctoria). Yellow dye made from ground turmeric or from the nono bush, Morinda citrifolia, was often used to stain an entire tapa as a foundation color. Mountain plaintain produced purple, and for black the tapa was submerged in the mud of a taro swamp for days and then dried.9o\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Re-psychles Vintage Shop \u0026 Art Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45101575110771,"sku":"451015751107_452B","price":80.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0637\/1426\/3155\/files\/523582462_1049692677346443_5955187999575354183_n_05b240b9-f1f6-4efa-902f-00ef4119c6fa.jpg?v=1781408373","url":"https:\/\/re-psychles.com\/products\/vintage-polynesian-framed-tapa-cloth","provider":"Re-psychles Vintage Shop \u0026 Art Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}