Bidspirit auction | Papua New Guinea Painted Bark

Papua New Guinea Painted Bark Cloth Tapa Fragment - Papua New Guinea bark cloth tapa fragment featuring hand-painted geometric motifs. This triangular piece is characteristic of the artistic traditions of the Oro Province or coastal regions of Melanesia, utilizing natural dark brown pigments on a cream-colored fibrous bark ground. The construction shows a hand-beaten bark texture with natural variations in thickness and fiber density. 11 1/2” L x 9” W x 5/8” D. From the personal collection of Peter Benchley (American, 1940–2006), acclaimed author of Jaws, accomplished diver, and prominent advocate for ocean and shark conservation.