The manufacture of tapa cloth, made from the inner bark of certain trees, is one of the most distinctive products of the cultures of the Pacific islands. In several parts of Melanesia from New Guinea to Vanuatu, in Fiji, and on most of the high islands of Polynesia from Hawaii to Tahiti, the Marquesas, Tonga, Samoa, Niue, the Cook Islands and even New Zealand, the manufacture of barkcloth is an ancient craft which bas been practised for thousands of years. Traditional Tapa Textiles of the Pacific presents a complete range of the ancient art of tapa, from cloth brought back from the first European voyages to the Pacific to contemporary examples of the art The origins, materials and manufacturing techniques are described, as well as tapas cultural context and uses in weddings, funerals, clothing, dance and ornament. With over 180 colour illustrations, many published for the first time, this book is a comprehensive survey of this fascinating branch of Pacific art.
