The Making of a Replica

When the Uncovering Pacific Pasts exhibition opened in 2020, a beautiful siapo—tapa or painted barkcloth from Samoa—was placed on display. As of May 2025, there is a replica in its place. What is a replica and why isn’t the original siapo on display anymore?

Take a look behind the scenes of the Peabody Museum to learn how our conservation staff care for collections to preserve them and make them accessible to the public.