Tapa Cloth Fragment
Western Samoa
Bark cloth, pigment
39" (99 cm) high by 54" (137 cm) wide
Early 20th century
#7368

This portion of a larger tapa cloth was collected circa 1910 to 1920 by Rear Admiral Cary Travers Grayson (1878-1938), President Woodrow Wilson's personal physician. The heavy brownish black resinous glaze is typical of Samoan tapa painted with 'o'a sap mixed with special charcoal, or black dye, from lama nut kernals. This is a freehand painted tapa.

Price on request