Samoan Siapo (9)

Approximately 32cm x 68cm
 
Siapo is the name for the fine cloth made from the beaten bast (inner bark ) of the Paper Mulberry tree (Broussonetia papyrifera) and is generically known as Tapa throughout the Pacific.
 
Its manufacture is a time consuming process involving harvesting the bast layers from the tree and beating and felting it together with wooden beaters to form large sheets. It is then rubbed on a wooden printing block to impress a pattern then overpainted several times.  
 
It is still made for custom use in Samoa as floor mats and bedding and in made into garments .It is used as gifts at weddings and as presentation to dignitaries. Local interest in the time consuming craft is kept alive as it has been since the 1930s by using it in the traditional customs of old  while extra is mage in more manageable sizes to sell to visitors as art..
 
Our modern siapo are made by generations of family Siapo makers on the island of Savaii while vintage pieces come from old collections and estates.