Mae Festa 50 Years of Collecting Textiles - Peter Pap Oriental Rugs

AFRICA – Sub-Sahara
Ceremonial Blanket
Mid-20 th Century
Xhosa People, Republic of South Africa
Commercial wool blanket, beads,
mother-of-pearl buttons.
127 x 94 cm 50 x 37 in
Beads (black, white, red, turquoise and bright
blue) are sewn in four horizontal bands, one
vertical band, and around the edges of the blanket,
coordinated with strips of black cotton “gimp”
sewn down to it. Pairs and threes of the buttons
are also sewn down at regular intervals on the
upper portion of the blanket, the threes flanking
the center line. The decoration is most concentrated
where the blanket would rest on shoulders, upper
back and arms. White garments were restricted
to ceremonial and festival use, as evidenced by the
care taken in this blanket’s decoration.
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