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Sold for: £50
A collection of Pacific Island textiles, primarily comprising large pieces of barkcloth and a single woven mat. The barkcloth, known as masi in Fiji and ngatu in Tonga, is constructed from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree, felted and beaten into sheets. These pieces feature traditional geometric motifs in charcoal black and earth-toned reddish-brown pigments, including triangles, chevrons, and stylised floral patterns. Several pieces include hand-painted block lettering, with one bearing the inscription SEMI L YAVITANALAGI SERU and another marked TEVITA ** BALEMAIMASELA ** ** SERU *. These masi pieces also incorporate contemporary motifs such as heart shapes and large hibiscus flowers. The woven mat is crafted from pale plant fibre, likely pandanus leaf, featuring multi-coloured floral embroidery in pink, orange, purple, red, and green. The mat is finished with a magenta-coloured yarn fringe and white barkcloth accents.
Condition report:
The barkcloth pieces show general creasing consistent with folded storage (photo 1). There are some frayed edges and minor losses to the organic fibres, particularly visible on the dark brown piece (photo 3). The woven mat appears in good condition with vibrant embroidery; the yarn fringe is largely intact, though some minor tangling is present (photo 4). No significant insect damage or pigment fading is visible across the collection.
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