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Sold for: £16
A collection of Polynesian style hand-woven mats, likely of Samoan or Tongan origin, crafted from hand-stripped and dried pandanus (screwpine) leaves. The group features several different weaving styles and decorative techniques, all employing a diagonal plaiting method. Included in the assortment is a mat featuring two integrated vertical bands of dark-dyed leaf strips creating a geometric repeating pattern. Two further mats are decorated with elaborate multi-coloured synthetic or wool yarn tufting along one edge, forming vibrant geometric “shag” patterns in shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and purple. The mats are finished with a combination of folded edges and raw leaf fringe. The pandanus has aged to a warm golden-brown honey tone throughout the collection. No maker’s marks, signatures, or labels are present on any of the items.
Condition report:
The collection shows signs of age and previous use consistent with floor placement. There is significant fraying and loss to the delicate pandanus leaf fringe along the edges of multiple mats (photos 1, 3, and 4). Localised staining and darkening of the woven leaves are visible in several areas (photo 3). One mat shows a prominent horizontal fold line with minor separation in the weave (photo 5). There is evidence of dust and minor storage debris trapped within the tight plaiting (photo 1). The multi-coloured yarn tufting remains largely vibrant, though shows minor matting from storage (photo 6).
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