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1886.1.1247

Barkcloth, unpainted. [MJD 18/06/2013]

1886.1.1247

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Collection type
Object
Description
Barkcloth, unpainted. [MJD 18/06/2013]
Long description
Barkcloth, unpainted, light yellowish white in colour. The cloth is made of one layer. The cloth has fine parallel beater marks. [MJD 18/06/2013]
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1886
Date collected
By 1886
Acquisition information
Transferred: 19/04/1886
Materials and processes
Material Bark Fibre Plant, Material Mulberry Leaf Plant, Material Bark Cloth Textile Plant, Process Beaten
Dimensions
Length: max 4740 mm, Width: max 1620 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1886.1.1247
Research and responses

Definitely not 'Forster' number 145. Number 145 reads, 'a jagged spear'. Therefore, this object has not been designated a proper 'Forster' number. [ZM 17/6/2004]

During a research visit on 8/6/2004 Associate Professor of Botany Will C. McClatchey and Al Keali'i Chock both from the University of Hawaii identified this barkcloth as probably Hawaiian because of the watermark, which is a distinguishing feature of Hawaiian barkcloths. [ZM 17/6/2004]

Examined during a research visit in April 2007 by Wendy Arbeit who noted that this is definitely not from Tonga because there is not the layering of the fibres typical of Tongan barkcloths. This cloth is one layer, has the sharp vertical imprint from the beater and is really smooth, which is typical of cloths from Tahiti and Hawaii. [ZM 25/4/2007]

Julia Gresson, Deputy Head of Conservation at the Horniman Museum and previously Head of Conservation at Auckland Museum looked at this barkcloth on the 20 June 2012 with HR and JU. We could not find any evidence of watermarks on it, as mentioned by McClatchey and Chock above, and are of the opinion that this barkcloth is from Tahiti. [JU 20/06/2012]

This barkcloth was examined by Adrienne Kaeppler, Smithsonian Institute, on 13-14 June 2013. She noted the fine beater marks. She stated it was probably made of paper mulberry. Due to the presence of such fine beater marks it is probably Tahitian. [MJD 18/06/2013]

Search terms: Barkcloth

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