Title / object name Anga (tapa cloth)
| Maker | Role | Date |
| Mangaia Historical and Cultural Society | maker/artist | Oct 2008 |
Medium Summary aoa or aerial roots of the banyan
Materials plant fibre, dye
| Dimensions |
| Approximate | 2530 (Width) x 5720 (Length) mm |
Classification textiles
Registration Number FE012489
Credit LinePurchased 2009
This large and stunning pieceanga (decorated tapa) is a significant addition to our very small collection of 19th and early 20th-century tapa from the Cook Islands.Made in 2008, it marks a renewed contemporary interest in tapa manufacture on the island of Mangaia.
Revival
Mangaia has a long history of producing tapa cloth and decorated tiputa (ponchos). However, the art form almost completely died out in the early 20th century.This anga is the product of a revival project in the village of Oneroa. The project was undertaken by the Mangaia Historical and Cultural Society sponsored by the University of the South Pacific Cook Islands campus. The anga is more than 5.5metres long and 2.5metres wide. It is made from the aoa, or aerial roots, of the Banyan tree. The decorations on the anga reference the motifs of late 19th and early 20th century barkcloth, carving and tattooing. However, the present generation of artists have added some innovations in composition and colour.
Acquisition
This anga was purchased by Te Papa in 2009.