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an image of a piece of cloth with a pattern on ita brown and white rug on the floor on the floora brown and white rug on the floor on the floora brown and white rug on a brick floora brown and white rug on the floor on the flooran image of a rug on the floor of a housea black and white picture of a pattern on a piece of clotha close up of a piece of cloth with a design on itan image of a close up of a piece of cloth with a pattern on ita close up of a piece of cloth with writing on ita close up of a wall with a pattern on ita black and white rug with a flower design on itan image of a piece of white cloth on a wooden flooran image of a piece of white cloth on a wooden floora fire hydrant in front of a wall with graffiti on ita red fire hydrant sitting on the side of a walla close up of a piece of paper with writing on it
Dyonne Enchères, Me Aurélie GUEN

9 - 1 - A tapa known as ‘masi’, from Fiji.
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Estimate €50 - €60
Sale commission
Description
A tapa known as ‘masi’, from Fiji. A rectangular piece of fabric decorated with beaten bark (Broussonetia papyfera). The design consists of a series of friezes (around ten) forming concentric rectangles. Most of the bands feature abstract geometric motifs in black on a white background. Four of these bands have a dark burgundy background; this variation in background contributes to the visual harmony of the tapa. The band comprising a floral frieze stands out from the rest of the fabric’s decoration. Traditionally, the masi (and, more generally, the tapa) was used for clothing (both everyday and ceremonial). But it was not used solely for clothing: the tapa was also a prestigious gift and a means of wrapping, thereby conferring a certain prestige (or even protection) on the object being wrapped. Although made by women, the masi (like the tapa) was most often worn by men. The arrival of Europeans changed the use of tapa: its decorative motifs made it a regular item of trade. The dimensions of this tapa attest to this use; it would therefore fall into the category known as ‘masi kesa’. Fijian people, Fiji (Polynesia). Without a stand. Dimensions: 119 x 285 cm Estimated date: 20th century (1980s?) Provenance: French private collection Selected bibliography: - Tapa. Barkcloth and Decorative Motifs of Oceania, Museum of New Caledonia; pp. 46–53 - Fergus CLUNIE, Yalo i Viti, Fiji Museum; pp. 126–140 - Simon KOOIJMAN, Polynesian Barkcloth, Shire Ethnography; pp. 37–54 - see also online: https://blogs.missouristate.edu/arthistory/fijian-tapa-cloth-researched-and-conserved-by-raegan-cash/ Corpus for comparison: - Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac (Paris): 71.2002.13.80 & 71.1943.0.406 X Expert: Nicolas Corigliano – Cabinet Corail & Mana
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About the sale Saturday 29 August, 2.00 pm: FURNITURE AUCTION, 420 lots
Auction location
Auction time 08/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits:
DYONNE AUCTIONS
See original version (French)
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