Man’s sitting mat, plaited from strips of split rattan. Narrow five-sided mat with point at one end. [RM [OPS move] 9/11/2016]

Collection type: Object
Description: Man’s sitting mat, plaited from strips of split rattan. Narrow five-sided mat with point at one end. [RM [OPS move] 9/11/2016]
Long description: Man’s sitting mat, plaited from strips of split rattan. Narrow five-sided mat with point at one end. Basic 2/2 twill with variations to give an assortment of patterns: black and natural horizontal and vertical lines, checks, meanders and circles. Natural ground also has blocks of patterning. The outer surface is more decorative, with fringing; the upper part is reinforced with two thicknesses of plaiting and decorated with 10 tufts of fine red yarn (one tuft is red and white, originally green). A length of plaited fibre string, with a pompom of strips of red, white and blue cotton textile, is tied to a loop near the point on the smoother inner surface: this is used to fasten the mat around the waist (see photo in Chin 1980:73).
Geographical reference: Malaysia
Asia > South-eastern Asia > Malaysia; Sarawak
Cultural groups: Iban; Kenyah; Kayan
Person: Field collector Dorothy Wright; PRM source Dorothy Wright
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1997
Date collected: By 1997
Acquisition information: Bequeathed: 1997
Materials and processes: Material Rattan Fibre Plant, Material Cotton Seed Fibre Textile Plant, Material Yarn, Material String, Material Plant Fibre, Process Plaited, Process Twill Plaited, Process Woven, Process Basketry
Dimensions: Length 286 mm tassels, Length: max 529 mm, Depth: max 30 mm, Width: max 381 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1997.11.24
Research and responses: Chin (1980:70) notes that this object is made by the Punan, Kayan, Kenyah and some Iban.

Search terms: Basketry, Clothing, Furniture Dwelling, Mat, Basket

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