Tapa Cloth

Item number 2623/48 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Data
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Description

The cloth is natural coloured and rectangular with a centred band and a repeating motif. The motif is a symetrical starburst-like design repeated four times within the large band. The border and the large lines of the design are light brown. The small details, dots and wavy lines are gray. The cloth is painted on one side.

Narrative

This tapa appears to be from the Collingwood Bay area, likely made by Maisin women. The design is known as “damana” (star). Maisin cloth is widely sold in Papua New Guinea, not least in the Orokaiva area. Fewer people there are currently making traditional bark cloth, so they purchase Maisin cloth for ceremonial dress.