Tribe: Woodlands - Western Great Lakes, attributed to the Mesquakie

Date: 19th Century or earlier

Materials: Bulrush, vegetal dyes, indigo cloth-strap tie.

Dimensions: L. 86" x 55"

Condition: Excellent, some wear patterns, minor fading. No restoration.

Comments: The intricate interlocking geometric patterns provide innumerable hourglass and diamond motifs which are the central patterns of Western Great Lakes iconography. This artist achieved an extraordinary level of sophistication in overlaying diamond/hourglass design on contrasting background colors resulting in a dynamic interplay of pulsating foreground and background.

"Rush mats were also intimately associated with prayer. Traditionally they were spread out on the benches of the summer house for participants to sit on during ceremonies,..." - p.7. For a similar exceptional rush mat see plate 4, Rush mat. Reference below, Torrence.

References: Ritzenhaler, Robert E. and Pat. The Woodlands Indians of the Western Great Lakes. Milwaukee Public Museum, 1983, p.74-79.

Torrence, Gaylord and Hobbs, Robert. Art of the Red Earth People: The Mesquakie of Iowa. The University of Washington Press, 1989, p.7.