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 cloth panel with leather backing. Top edge is a beaded leather roll. Top section of the panel white beaded geometric motif, middle section multi-colored geometric motifs, and bottom center leather fringe.
Provenance:
Norman and Susan Priebatsch, collected Bronkhorstspruit area, -- to 1977
Chaim and Renee Gross, New York, 1978 to 1983
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