Mid 20th Century Large Fijian Masi Tapa Cloth With Hand Painted Geometric Kesa Motifs

Details

Description

Make a striking statement with this large vintage Fijian masi (tapa) cloth, beautifully hand painted with bold geometric kesa motifs. … Read more Make a striking statement with this large vintage Fijian masi (tapa) cloth, beautifully hand painted with bold geometric kesa motifs. Measuring approximately 77 inches high by 40 inches wide, this is a substantial wall piece with the scale and presence of contemporary abstract art.
The cloth is made from hand-beaten mulberry bark, a traditional process long practiced in Fiji, and decorated with natural pigments applied in layered triangular and linear patterns. The warm brown, umber, and cream palette brings both texture and visual rhythm, making it a dramatic focal point for living rooms, entryways, or coastal interiors.
This example was originally acquired in the 1970s as overflow material released by the Field Museum, a period when the museum deaccessioned older ethnographic textiles. The patina, pigment oxidation, and fiber characteristics all indicate a mid-20th-century origin (circa 1940–1970).
Details
Origin: Fiji
Period: Mid 20th Century
Material: Barkcloth (Mulberry Fiber)
Technique: Hand Painted Kesa Motifs
Dimensions: Approx. 77" H × 40" W (195 cm × 103 cm)
Colors: Brown, Umber, Cream, Natural Barkcloth Tones See less