The document summarizes textiles and woven items from Melanesia and Polynesia housed in the 1930 Fleischmann Collection at the Cincinnati Museum Center. It includes examples of plant-based materials like rush, mulberry, and fig bark used to create tapa cloth. Functional woven items on display include fish traps, water carriers, and knotted cane dragged along the ocean floor. Personal adornment pieces featured are neckbands, knotted headdresses, looped feather headresses, plaited sunshades, and jewelry. A variety of weaving and knotting techniques from the regions are represented.

1. Melanesia & Polynesia
The
1930 Fleischmann Collection
Cincinnati, OH Museum Center

2. Textiles & Wovens





Plant materials
Plaited rush
Mulberry innercore as
Tapa
Fig bark tapa
Breadfruit tapa

3. Functional Wovens

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Plant material only
Fish Trap

4. Water carrier

5. Knotted

Cane knotted with a 30#
weight to drag along the
ocean floor

6. Personal Adornment
Neckband

7. Knotted Decorative Tool

8. Knotted

Headress for ceremonial
Polynesian wedding

9. Looped Cord & feathers

Bird of Paradise secured
to produce a dramatic
headress

10. Plaited Sun Shade Umbrella

11. Sunshade Stitchwork

12. Personal Adornment


Jewelry
Ceremonial Staff

13. Plaited Eye Shade Visor

14. Melanesian & Polynesian
Plant Materials
Woven
Knotted
Felted

15. Complex Wovens

16. Looped Cord