Context (Acquisition Details)
Given to the Museum by Jean Khalfa, Director of Studies in Modern and Medieval Languages, Trinity College. The College was gifted with the barkcloth by Semisi Potauaine.
Semisi Potauaine wrote: “Originally the piece of ngatu was gifted to my mother on the behalf of my family at my father’s funeral early 2008. It was part of many exchanged-gifts which is still part of our Tongan custom today. As my mother, Menesina Tonata heard of my travel to London, she raised that I take a gift with me as a token of appreciation to Arthington Davy for their generous offer to fund my travel and to attend the Festival of Theatre, London 2008. Note that this [is] not a thank you from just me, personally but also from my extended family as a whole. My mother pick[ed] this particular piece out of [as] many as 20 pieces of ngatus, and said ‘take this one because it is an old piece but it has been re-touched’. This piece of ngatu shows a mixes of motifs ranging from the ‘code of arms’ of the Tongan dynasty (Tu’i Kanokupolu) which is only new since the late 1800’s, and a much older motif (kupesi) of the manulua. This mixes of motif may be not new to you. Notice that the motifs at pre-European contact was highly elaborate and high[ly] abstracted (Cook’s collection).” W. Veys 13/11/2008
Event Date 13/11/2008
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Barkcloth decorated with freehand painted black designs against a red-brown background. The motifs include: ‘Sila ‘o Tonga’ (Seal of Tonga) with the words ‘Ko e ‘Otua mo Tonga ko hotau Tofi’a’ meaning ‘God and Tonga are my inheritance; elonngated triangles (matahihifi) and flower-like motifs
Event Date 13/11/2008
Author: maa