Bark cloth

Production date
Unknown
Country
Papua New Guinea
State/Province
Oro (Northern Province)
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Object detail

Description
Bark cloth, rectangular, geometric design, brown, black and red
Maker
Production date
Unknown
Measurements
L1325 x W458mm
Media/Materials description
Bark cloth
History and use
This bark cloth (tapa) is from Oro province in Papua New Guinea, and features a geometric motif in brown, black and red.

Oro province (also known as Northern province) is famous for its tapa, and is more widely known for its capital, Popondetta, being one end of the Kokoda Trail.

Tapa is made from the bast (inner bark) of a tree, normally from the paper mulberry, breadfruit, or wild fig. The bast is stripped, dried, soaked and beaten, and then painted with designs and decorations. Sometimes, glue made from tapioca or sweet potato starch is used to make bigger pieces of cloth. Tapa cloth can be used for special cermonies, given as gifts and/or worn at weddings and other events like graduations.

Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
Registration number
E11959

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