Man's Sitting Mat
Maloh or Taman People
Borneo,
19th century
21 1/2" x 11"  (55 x 28 cm) 

Trade beads, wool and cotton trade cloth, buttons, handmade shell ornaments, barkcloth and tufts of dyed fur, with diamond shapedmetal pieces attached at end of bead fringes. All elements applied onto a woven mat of natural fibers and dye. An outstanding and very old example in overall good condition, with some bead loss and eroded trade cloth