Papua New Guinea

PAINTED TAPA CLOTH, Wanagela area, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

PAINTED TAPA CLOTH, Wanagela area, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea
PAINTED TAPA CLOTH, Wanagela area, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea
PAINTED TAPA CLOTH, Wanagela area, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

PAINTED TAPA CLOTH, Wanagela area, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

This cloth is made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree. A thick section of bark is beaten continually with a wooden mallet that makes the tapa larger, stronger and thinner. The abstract designs are applied using two natural dyes; one a reddish colour, the other dark grey.

Such cloths are traditionally used as capes and loin cloths. Size: 100 cm (length) 36 cm (width).


PAINTED TAPA CLOTH, Wanagela area, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea