Heva Tūpāpāʻu

A Heva Tūpāpā’u, also known as a Mourner's Dress, is a costume traditionally worn in Tahiti as part of mourning ceremonies. It was traditionally worn after the death of an important person in Tahiti culture, in a ceremony that could last weeks or months. Very few Heva Tūpāpā’u survive today.

Examples of materials used to make Heva Tūpāpā’u include coconut fibers and coconut shells, pearls, feathers, and barkcloth, all of which were considered "ritually significant".

It is estimated that James Cook brought approximately 10 Heva Tūpāpā’u back with him to Europe in 1775 after collecting them during his expeditions. The Heva Tūpāpā’u also inspired paintings by famous European artists such as Herman Spöring Jr, and Sarah Stone. The British Museum describes a Heva Tūpāpā’u held in their museum as "one of the most important objects in the British Museum's collections."

Museum collections

Examples of Heva Tūpāpā’u are present in museums in Hawaii, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.The following institutions contain either a complete or partial Heva Tūpāpā’u in their collections.

• The Pitt Rivers Museum, collected during James Cook's second voyage (1772–1775).
• The Royal Albert Memorial Museum, acquired by Francis Godolphin Bond in 1792.
• Perth Museum, acquired by physician David Ramsay (1794–1860).
• The British Museum, collected by James Cook in 1774.
• The Museum of New Zealand.

Further reading

• Diego Tamburini, Caroline R. Cartwright, Julie Adams. The scientific study of the materials used to create the Tahitian mourner's costume in the British Museum collection. Journal of Cultural Heritage.Volume 42. March–April 2020. Pages 263–269.
• B. A. L. Cranstone, H. J. Gowers.The Tahitian Mourner's Dress: A Discovery and a Description. The British Museum Quarterly. Volume 32. Number 3/4. Spring 1968. Pages 138–144.