Description:

Oceania, Solomon Islands Archipelago, Melanesia, Vanuatu, Malekula, ca. 19th century CE. A lovely carved-wood tapa beater displaying a circular base and a conical handle that expands to an elongated, cuboid body, with a rounded, square top. Painted a deep hue of mocha, the lovely implement features eight to ten vertical lines on two faces of the body intended to evenly flatten the fibers of the tapa bark used for creating textiles with a horizontal band where they end. Tapa cloths are traditionally made by beating the inner bark of mulberry or similar trees until it is soft and pliable, and then painted using a palette of naturally-occurring pigments. This example is a solid, elegant tool that was used to create true works of art. Size: 1.674" W x 20" H (4.3 cm x 50.8 cm)

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#141415

  • Condition: Collection label on handle. Chips to handle and a few nicks to body. Expected abrasions due to age and use. Otherwise, very nice with light patina.

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February 25, 2021 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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