Mapotos are rectangular aprons worn by Ndebele women to indicate married status; they are worn primarily for ceremonial occasions. Characteristically, beadwork on these garments forms three horizontal registers; the bottom one is centrally divided by a section of leather fringe.
Description:
Rectangular leather panel on cloth backing. Top, edge rolled and beaded, white open squares with vertical blue strip. Middle section multi-colored geometric patterns on white background. Leather fringe with white beads, center bottom.
Provenance:
Norman and Susan Priebatsch, collected Dennilton area, -- to 1977
Chaim and Renee Gross, New York, 1978 to 1983
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