Arts and Crafts of Samoa

The arts of Samoa are similar to other Polynesian islands but have their own style, adapted from their particular environment and materials.

Woodcarving was mostly connected with the practical and material uses rather than being decorative; however they did exercise their artistic abilities in applying decorative designs.

Some of these carvings were used for ritual and religious purposes.

Essential items include the canoe, kava bowls, food bowls and the upeti, a sunken relief used to decorate bark cloth. War clubs and especially the kava bowls have special significance in ritual ceremonies.

Siapo or bark cloth is made from the mulberry tree and has a wide range of uses such as bedding, clothing and partitions. It was also their canvass for painting and designs.

Women considered mat making their highest form of art. Materials from the pandanas palms and coconut trees were the primary ones used.

Mats range from the course low ranking coconut palm ones to the high ranking chief’s robes decorated with feathers and yarn.

Baskets and plaited works have an extensive variety, from the practical such as food carrying baskets to the plaited and patterned items used for hats, fans, purses, table ware and place mats.

It was considered honourable to be tattooed, with certain designs and patterns reserved for the chiefly classes.

The two types of tattoo are the tatau, for males which covers the area from the lower back to the knees, and the malu, for females which covers the area between the thighs and knees.

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