Context (CMS Context)
Catalogue card 1 reads [stamped in black ink:] 'Z 3862. FIJI.' [typed:] 'Tapa, sample of, black and white, some red-brown, 4'-5" x 1'-10". Cut off a large piece that used to be on the wall of Government House Suva at the time Sir A. H. Gordon, afterwards Lord Stanmore was governor, circa: 1875.' [stamped in black ink:] 'SHOW CASE NUMBER 19A'. [added in pencil in the bottom left corner:] '19A/Panel 3L'. [added in black ink pen:] '(Centenary Exhibition)'. [added in blue pen:] 'This is the largest piece of barkcloth in the museum 8/79'. [added in black ink pen:] 3.26m wide 14.29m long. Large piece also bearing the same number and same patterns as small piece.' [added in blue pen:] 'Small piece may exist, but it would have been given later Z no., as unrecognised. May not exist as this catalogue [back of card:] '[1 word illegible] every complete tapa a 'sample'. Also he measures inaccurately. On the other hand a small piece possibly 4.5' x 1'-10 is missing from this very large piece. The label attached was found pinned to the barkcloth (AC, 8/79). Cloth has been folded (hopefully) traditionally + is awaiting a drawer.' Three small black and white photographs of the barkcloth + barkcloth in the Museum's courtyard.
Catalogue card 2 reads [handwritten in black pen:] 'Z 3862. Card 2. MELANESIA. FIJI.' Two small black and white photographs of the cloth.
Catalogue card 3 reads [handwritten in black ink:] 'Z. 3862. Tapa, sample of, black and white, some red-brown, 4'-5" x 1'-10". Cut off a large piece that used to be on the wall of Government House, Suva, at the time Sir A. H. Gordon, afterwards Lord Stanmore was Governor. Circa 1875. Show Case Number 19A.' [added in pencil in the bottom left corner:] '19A. Panel 3 L.
Catalogue card reads [handwritten in black pen:] 'Z 30618 MELANESIA FIJI. Barkcloth - white, black & red-brown. Poor shape. 0.56 x 1.34m. A small round red sticker and a black & white photograph of the object glued to the card.
Event Date
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Barkcloth. White, black and red-brown. Poor shape.
'Partial piece of barkcloth stencilled in black and red with big geometric designs. F. Veys, 15/11/2004.'
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa

Context (CMS Context)
It is unlikely that this piece was hanging in Government House in Suva. Sir Arthur Gordon resided in Government, Nasova (Ovalau Island) until the end of his governorship in 1880. Suva became the capital of FIji in 1882.
Event Date 18/3/2013
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (CMS Context)
It seems likely that the piece originally accessioned as Z 3862 was the small piece (now recorded as Z 30618), not the large one.
Event Date 18/3/2013
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (CMS Context)
Labels and inscriptions: [Original label in Anatole von Hugel's hand attached to catalogue card for Z 3862] Side 1: 'Piece of figured barkcloth. Tui Thakau ('King of the Reef') the chief who presented this piece of cloth to Sir Arthur Gordon (the 1st Governor of Fiji) worn it as his train. Waikava. Vanua Levu, Fiji, 1876. (Gordon Collection). See exhibit in other rooms.' Side 2: 'VI. Printing blocks (3 specimen framed). These 'blocks' are made of palm leaf and the mid-rib of leaflets: the latter are sewn on the former in the desired pattern. The colour is not applied [end of label]'.
Event Date 18/3/2013
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (CMS Context)
Exhibited: 'Chiefs & Governors: Art and power in Fiji', Cambridge MAA, 7 June 2013 - 19 April 2014.
Event Date 25/4/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden

Conservation ()
CON.2013.65 |
Event Date 1/3/2016
Author: maa