Description:

Oceania/Polynesia, Tonga, ca. early 20th century CE. A heavy wooden tapa beater, carved in an asymmetrical hourglass form, with a conical handle with a flat base and a cuboid beating end, three sides of which have deeply incised grooves. Tapa was introduced to the western world in the late 18th century by Captain Cook's first expedition, where it was collected under the direction of Joseph Banks and brought to Europe. In Polynesian society, the cloth is of great social importance and is often given as a gift, but it once (before synthetic fabrics replaced it) was used as everyday wear; today it is worn only at special occasions such as weddings. Size: 2.5" W x 11.75" H (6.4 cm x 29.8 cm)

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#133634

  • Condition: Large ancient loss from the handle; unclear if this is a natural fault of the wood or was gouged out at some point in the past. Smooth patina on surface.

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May 24, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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