Masi Kesa

Masi Kesa. Printed bark cloth with brown-coloured and black-coloured geometric patterns. There are four sections consisting of two large white frangipani flower motifs against black. Two other floral motifs are printed across the Masi Kesa. Brown-coloured and black-coloured geometric motifs including i-seru motifs (comb motifs) are also incorporate in the design across the Masi Kesa. The edges are decorated with qasiqasi ni uga (crab design - where the crab leaves a trail in its wake when moving), and bold brown lines. Masi is made from bark stripped from the Vuni Masi (Paper mulberry) tree. The outer skin is removed and the inner bark (natural in colour) is 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). Using water as the binding agent, strips of masi are felted together.