Title: Marriage Mat
Material: Straw and beads
Description: The Ndebele are among the smallest tribes in
South Africa, but one of the most colorful and distinctive
tribes on the entire continent. The women are the practitioners
of Ndebele art which represents a rich cultural heritage. During
the Ndebele marriage ceremony, the bride garbed in all of her
ceremonial wedding beadwork, sits on a mat such as this one. It
is made from strands of straw woven together in a rectangular
shape, framed with intricate beading around its perimeter. The
various shapes and colors found within this boarder, hold
significance and meaning to both the individuals and the ceremony.
Dimensions: 38" length x 20" width x 1/4" depth
