Small Mangbetu Mat

This unusual mat is decorated with rows of chevrons edged with a border of lighter coloured fibre with a design of shallower cropped chevrons. Its intended use is ambiguous, it is not stiff enough to have been used as screen or platter. Most likely it is a prestige or gift item meant to show the skill of the maker or perhaps it was placed on the ground and prestige items or gifts were placed upon it.