Mbuti Pygmy Painted Bark Cloth, Pongo
Mbuti People
Ituri Forest, DR Congo
20th century
Pounded ficus bark, natural pigments
Size:  35 x 72 cm 

Published, Mbuti Design, page 162, #48   Georges Meurant, Thames and Hudson 1995

This drawing has been used in a dance or ceremony. The bark cloth absorbed some of the oil on the wearer's body accentuating the fine fingerprint like inner patter, created by pounding the ficus bark with an ivory mallet.
The two holes were caused perhaps by proximity to a wood fire, an ember has burnt through both layers. Pongo were worn folded over a belt.