DepartmentTextiles-Asia
Tapa cloth (Ngatu) with Tongan Coat of Arms motif
NameTapa cloth (Ngatu)
CultureTongan
Date1982
Place madeNuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga, Oceania
Mediumbark cloth, natural pigments
Dimensions141 1/2 × 78 × 1 in. (359.4107 × 198.1204 × 2.54 cm)
Credit LineGift of Robert F. Cunnane
Object numberA.2023.18.1
ProvenanceDonor lived and worked in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, for a little over two years; the cloth was made for the donor by the family of a colleague (Susana Liava), as a going-away gift.
DescriptionLarge bark cloth with alternating rows of animal and plant motifs and coat of arms on each end, overall brown color
20th century
Early 20th century
c. 1900
ca 1960
Meiji Period, late 19th century
Artist Not Recorded
Late 19th century
