PAINTED TAPA CLOAK 

Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea

These tapas are made for special ceremonies and large social gatherings, among tribes in the central regions  of the Eastern Highlands, particularly the Fore and Kamano people. Tapa headdresses are made from bark fiber, as are tapa cloths/cloaks. This is a tapa cloak. This long undulating design depicts the creator serpent. The tiny black lines represent the shimmering of his skin, the sun reflecting off his skin.

Size: 51 cm (length)  19 cm (width)

Weight: 62 grams