Mat

Description

Original Devon & Exeter Institution label reads “Half a mat/Otaheite/Presented by Capt. Bond, RN.” Donated to the museum by the Devon & Exeter Institute in January 1872.
Length = 2000 x width = 1680mm

The plaited mat (pe’ue) was sat or slept on or served as a partition. However, they were also used to contain the power of the sacred and were used as sacrificial offerings for deities. Fine mats were worn as ponchos. This example is made from woven pandanus fibres.

Anna D’Alleva, 1994
“Finely plaited mat. 3-3.5 strips/cm.”

Accession Loan No.

E1774

Collection Class

Household objects

Common Name

mat

Simple Name

mat

Full Name

woven mat (pe’ue)

Dimensions

whole width 1680 mm; whole length 2000 mm

Production Year High

1792

Production County

Tahiti, Society Islands

Production Country

French Polynesia (Overseas Collectivity of France)

Production Area Region

Polynesia

Production Continent

Oceania

Family Group



Material

pandanus

Production Method

-33.5

Collection Area Region

POLYN

Collection Continent

Pacific