Tongan Tapa Wall Art orange • Pre-shrunk fabric

• Pre-shrunk fabric

this Hawaii adornment classically symbolizes knowledge and light

It is thought that this style change shortened production time

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Tongan Tapa Wall Art orange • Pre-shrunk fabricTongan Ngatu. Each is a work of art. Each is a unique handicraft. No two are the same. Hand painted Tongan ngatu, or tapa as it is known in English, is a labor intensive process that starts with the cultivation and eventual harvesting of the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree (hiapo). Traditionally, tapa making is done by groups of women working in teams. After cleaning and preparing the strips of inner bark, they are pounded with a wooden mallet