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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: Benoit Trow on June 24, 2009, 01:15:43 PM

Title: Tapa Cloth - What's it worth?
Post by: Benoit Trow on June 24, 2009, 01:15:43 PM

This quite lovely textile is 3' X 4" and in remarkably clean and vibrant condition.  My wife, an artist, believes it is a natural material/canvas and was either hand-painted or hand-inked.  Really, we have no idea, we picked it up at a local charity shop because it was so pretty and interesting.

Thanks in advance for your help/insight!

Trow

Title: Re: Textile? What is it and what may it be worth?
Post by: regularjoe2 on June 24, 2009, 03:17:59 PM

Looks like a Tapa , to me .

Tapas are/were made from the inner bark of paper mulberry trees (Broussonetia Papyrifera) , or more rare (really old ones) the dye-fig tree (Ficus Tinotoria) .

It's quite a process to make the fibers into a tapa .

Without being able to touch/see in person , this is my best guess .

They can be trade/tourist items , bedding/clothing and also tapas can have a great spiritually significant nature also .

Title: Re: Textile? What is it and what may it be worth?
Post by: Benoit Trow on June 24, 2009, 04:04:46 PM

Thanks, that certainly make sense.  Is this Tapa something that would have been made by American Indians?  If so, when, where etc.?  If no, whom, where, etc.?

This forum and its members is truly amazing!

Cheers!

Trow

Title: Re: Textile? What is it and what may it be worth?
Post by: regularjoe2 on June 24, 2009, 04:15:06 PM

Just go ahead & google "Tapa" & you'll find a bunch of info about these pacific islander-made items , Benoit Trow .

Title: Re: Textile? What is it and what may it be worth?
Post by: Benoit Trow on June 24, 2009, 04:56:52 PM

Thanks, got it, it's a Tapa Cloth probably of Polynesian origin.

Any idea on value?

Cheers!

Trow

Title: Re: Tapa Cloth - What's it worth?
Post by: regularjoe2 on June 24, 2009, 05:13:00 PM

When it comes to Tapas , I can on rely on my senses , Benoit Troy .....

I'd really have to have it in my hands to give you an opinion of it's value .

So sorry , I simply can't tell much from images & I would not want to mislead you about it's value .

It would be more valuable if you had some provenance (documented history) on it , though .

Title: Re: Tapa Cloth - What's it worth?
Post by: Benoit Trow on June 24, 2009, 06:53:40 PM

I'm in Chicago, can anyone suggest a good reputable dealer I can inquire with?

Title: Re: Tapa Cloth - What's it worth?
Post by: regularjoe2 on June 25, 2009, 07:06:29 PM

One more small tip/suggestion for you , when selling or researching -

I think yours is prob from Fiji , where they are commonly known as Fijian Masi .