Catalog Number
|
Catalog Number |
CAS 0108-0020 | |
| Category | Textiles | |
| Object Name | Clothing mat | |
| Culture | Micronesian: Marshallese | |
| Global Region | Oceania | |
| Country | Marshall Islands | |
| State/Prov./Dist. | Unknown | |
| County | ||
| Other Geographic Data | unknown | |
| Maker's Name | Unknown | |
| Date of Manufacture | ca. 1920-1940 | |
| Collection Name | N/A | |
| Materials | Pandanus leaves; Hibiscus fibers (black); Beach bur (ata ata) fibers (reddish brown); Native cordage | |
| Description | Nearly square mat woven primarily of very thin strips natural pandanus leaves, primarily in a plain (1/1) plating technique; Central square area of mat is plain, framed on all four edges by a four borders; Inner border is woven of natural pandanus leaves and dyed black hibiscus fibers, with the dyed fibers woven in an overlay technique to form pattern of black alternating positive and negative squares; Designs are two-faced or reversed from front to back of mat; Second narrow border is also woven of natural pandanus leaves with overlay of dyed brown beach bur fibers that form pattern of chevrons, known as the “wavy land of islands†pattern; Third border is woven in diagonal plaiting technique, with natural pandanus leaves positioned in one direction and dyed dark brown beach bur fibers positioned in the opposite direction, forming design of alternating diamonds and outlined cross pattern along all four edges, and solid dark brown squares at each corner; Fourth border is identical to the second one; Fifth and final border is woven separately of very narrow pandanus leaves in diagonal plaiting technique, with dyed black hibiscus fibers overlaid to form band of alternating positive and negative squares, continuing uninterrupted around rounded corners of mat; All designs on mat are double-faced, i.e., design and/or color is reversed from front to back of mat; Mats of this type were traditionally worn as clothing by women, with one in the front and another overlapping one on the back and the two secured with a belt of some type. | |
| Dimensions (cm) | Width = 85.5, Length = 87.5 | |