Tapa Bark Cloth

Description

This item is a large piece of double layered tapa, Ngatu cloth made from the bark of a tree.  It is 12 feet by 4 feet 2 inches in dimension and was brought to me from the Island Kingdom of Tonga in the late 1960's.  It has been stored ever since in an insect proof trunk and has never been used.  It was purchased from a dealer, brought to me by a friend and taken out of the trunk no more than 5 times in the past 50 years.  The piece is hand painted in black and brown tones.  It is not damaged by usage, nor is there damage from insect or rodents.  It is an artistic piece that can be used decoratively to adorn a large wall space.  The artist (s) is (are) not known except that it was made by native Tongans. It is a one of a kind work, though the designs are common to other pieces.