FIVE STRIPS OF FINE LIGHT TAN BARK CLOTH WITH A DOUBLE TRIANGLE WATERMARK. EACH STRIP HAS DESIGNS PAINTED OR STAMPED IN HALF CIRCLES. "3487" WRITTEN ON THE BARK CLOTH AND "NEW GUINEA" IS WRITTEN ON ONE PIECE. OLD TAG READS, "3487 NATIVE CLOTH, NEW GUINEA, K.P. EMORY,1940". THESE LOOK MUCH LIKE THE OTHER HAWAIIAN PIECES - THE NEW GUINEA IDENTIFICATION IS AN ERROR.
FROM CARD: "3483-89. CAT. 3487. ORIG. 844. TAPA. HILO, HAWAII. SAMPLE TAKEN BY K.P. EMORY, 6/24/41.
Peale catalogue for numbers 838 to 846 identifies them as "Tapa," cloth made of bark; printed and colored in imitation of foreign patterns by natives of Kauai, Hawaiian Islands."
Five individual lengths of tapa, all with same designs of probable cut bamboo ends, forming repeated connected semi-circles. These designs are a dark brown color. Tapa is watermarked with diamond patterns with a central line through the diamond. The water/beater mark is also evident through touch. The pieces do not appear to have edges that connect to one another.
