siapo (Tapa Cloth)

About this object

Narrative

The siapo is said to have been gifted to the donor's father Richard Sharell (photographer, 1893-1986) by a sea captain while he was in the south Pacific.

Physical description

Large rectangular tapa cloth with overall background pattern stamped in light red-brown. Overtop are dark red-brown and black painted designs in flowers, diamonds, triangles and dots.