Bark cloth
Country
Papua New Guinea
State/Province
Oro (Northern Province)
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Object detail
Description
Bark cloth, rectangular , red and, black geometric decoration.
Production place
Measurements
L 1173 x W576mm
Media/Materials description
Bark cloth, plant fibre
History and use
This tapa (bark cloth) is from Oro Province in Papua New Guinea. Oro Province is famous for its tapa, and the women often wear the tapa while singing and dancing at traditional singsings (gatherings involving the performance of traditional dances and songs).
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 ceremonies, given as gifts and/or worn at weddings and other events like graduations.
Bark cloth is made throughout the Pacific region and is referred to by many different names.
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 ceremonies, given as gifts and/or worn at weddings and other events like graduations.
Bark cloth is made throughout the Pacific region and is referred to by many different names.
Registration number
E4838
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