Ngatu fuatanga (tapa cloth)

Ngatu is the Tongan name given to tapa cloth or decorated bark cloth. It is made from the inner bark of hiapo (paper mulberry tree). The pieces of bark are beaten with a mallet, widened and joined together to make larger pieces of cloth. Groups of women work together to decorate the cloth with natural dyes and pigments. Motifs and patterns are often inspired by the natural environment or associated with important people and events.

Description

This ngatu is a fuatanga (complete large square tapa cloth). It has a wide border which is undecorated, apart from some very limited hand painted motifs. The central area, is completely decorated by the rubbing through of impressions on a kupesi (rubbing board).

This fuatanga features a background pattern produced by rubbing the cloth on a fairly coarse weave pandanus leaf mat, rather than on a kupesi (rubbing board). It is overpainted with a pattern of plant motifs.

Significance

This fuatanga was made in Tonga in 1983 by Mafi Tu'inukuafe Latu and 'Anau Toili Latu and brought to New Zealand for the occasion of the 5th birthday and hair cutting of Toili Latu the eldest son of Ina Latu the donor.