The jacket is both a document of an indigenous culture (barkcloth) and of an encounter with empire (the Victorian official in his reefer jacket) that was to prove disastrous for that culture.

Set against the backdrop of Tonga's rich culture, Agnesi shares her excitement about the royal visit of King Tupu IV and Queen Mat, and the significance of tapa cloth, a traditional fabric made ...

Ngatu, siapo, aute, masi, tapa… just some of the names from across the Pacific for barkcloth which reflect the rich variety ...