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<p>[QUOTE="Taupou, post: 165159, member: 45"]When it comes to tapa cloth, the main problems seem to be that there are a limited number of collectors, decorative use is generally thought to be limited to Island or Tiki-style, and the general public is not even aware of what it is or where it comes from. </p><p><br /></p><p>Most of the more recent pieces on the market are either inexpensive souvenir placemats from Fiji, or huge Tongan pieces that have limited display possibilities. </p><p><br /></p><p>Value has less to do with size, than with where it was made (Samoan generally gets higher prices than Tongan, and Tongan higher than Fiji), the quality of the craftsmanship, and the graphic appeal of the design.</p><p><br /></p><p>Your two pieces are from Samoan, and are<i> siapo mamanu, </i>meaning the tapa (<i>siapo</i> in Samoa) design was painted freehand, rather than first having been printed by rubbing over a carved wood pattern. That method lends itself more to the round shape, which was developed primarily for the tourist and collector market, as opposed to the larger rectangular pieces used traditionally in Samoan homes for wall covering, bedding, clothing, and ceremonial gifts.</p><p><br /></p><p>I've found the round ones more difficult to sell, maybe because people have a hard time thinking of a way to display them, but I think the idea of using a round one under glass as a table top is a great solution.</p><p><br /></p><p>Could you post photos of some of the others you have, as well? If you have any by Mary Pritchard, that would be very desirable to collectors.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Taupou, post: 165159, member: 45"]When it comes to tapa cloth, the main problems seem to be that there are a limited number of collectors, decorative use is generally thought to be limited to Island or Tiki-style, and the general public is not even aware of what it is or where it comes from. Most of the more recent pieces on the market are either inexpensive souvenir placemats from Fiji, or huge Tongan pieces that have limited display possibilities. Value has less to do with size, than with where it was made (Samoan generally gets higher prices than Tongan, and Tongan higher than Fiji), the quality of the craftsmanship, and the graphic appeal of the design. Your two pieces are from Samoan, and are[I] siapo mamanu, [/I]meaning the tapa ([I]siapo[/I] in Samoa) design was painted freehand, rather than first having been printed by rubbing over a carved wood pattern. That method lends itself more to the round shape, which was developed primarily for the tourist and collector market, as opposed to the larger rectangular pieces used traditionally in Samoan homes for wall covering, bedding, clothing, and ceremonial gifts. I've found the round ones more difficult to sell, maybe because people have a hard time thinking of a way to display them, but I think the idea of using a round one under glass as a table top is a great solution. Could you post photos of some of the others you have, as well? If you have any by Mary Pritchard, that would be very desirable to collectors.[/QUOTE]
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