Tappa specimen
Date made: 1842
Description: Sample of Tappa cloth (made from beaten bark of Mulberry tree).
Specimen of 'Tappa' from Pitcairn Island, made by Polly Christian, 1842, descendant of Fletcher Christian. Tappa is traditional Polynesian fibre-cloth, beaten from the bark of the paper mulberry tree.
Pitcairn Islanders are descended from the Mutineers of HMAV Bounty, including Fletcher Christian, the leader of the mutineers. Although from Cumberland, which is just across the sea from the Isle of Man, he was related to the Christian family of Milntown near Ramsey and maintained links with the Island.
Measurements: overall: 16 x 5 cm
Materials: vegetal
Object name: tappa
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 1954-1243