Masi Kesa

human history

Masi Kesa. A long and narrow rectangular piece of masi (bark cloth) beaten from Vuni Masi (Paper mulberry tree) and hand-stencilled designs applied to the surface of the masi in black ink. The masi is off-white in colour with eighteen large circular dots applied to the surface, spaced out evenly across the masi; each 'pair' of dots alternate between being further decorated with smaller dots applied around their circumference, or four lines of small dots emanating outwards from the central circular dot. The long sides of the masi are painted in a bold dark line running the length of the masi. "SEAU" printed in the same dark colour near one corner of the masi. Masi is produced from the inner bark of Vuni Masi which soaked in a papasia (large wooden bowl). It is then laid out on a duadua (long wooden anvil) and beaten with an ike (bark cloth beater) to produce the naturally off-white colour cloth. Layers are felted together to increase thickness and size of the masi.

Last Update: 17 Oct 2025
Accession Date

Unknown

Other Id

4138.2 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

Enquire API view
10 Images
Masi kesa, 4138.2, Photographed by Andrew Hales, digital, 29 May 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
View gallery ( 10)