TAPA CLOTH FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Description

75” x 33”
This is an original piece of tapa cloth made in the Collingwood Bay area of Papua New Guinea in the 1980s. It was made from the bark of the mulberry tree which was pounded and folded to gradually flatten and stretch the fibers. Small holes caused by knots or variations in the thickness of the bark were repaired by attaching a small patch of cloth to the rougher side. This piece may also have some small un-repaired holes.
The typical pattern was made using red and black dyes applied with a brush made from a pandanus nut. The black dye is from coconut husk charcoal and the red dye from boiled leaves and bark. It was made by a group of women working to ensure that the traditional skills are passed on to future generations.