Masi (tapa cloth)

This masi has black and reddish-brown coloured patterns over a plain background. The patterns consist of stars and triangles. Blue-grey coloured fringes run along all four sides and along the centre. The two connected top surface sections of tapa are lined underneath with one piece of tapa.

In Fiji, masi are generally made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree (Broussonetia papyrifera). This masi’s double layering makes it unique.

Acquisition

This masi was gifted to the Dominion Museum (Te Papa’s predecessor) fromthe Wellcome Collection in 1952.