Unknown Maker, Samoan

This large tapa was perhaps used as a wrapped garment, as the edges are cut into a decorative fringe. The fringe border was first painted in diagonal stripes and then cut in straight lines to give the appearance of twisted fringe.

The bold pinwheel design evident on the lengthwise borders and the four-pointed star design of the central panel are ancient motifs used throughout the Pacific. These particular patterns are commonly seen on tapa from western Polynesia, especially Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji .