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This menswear barkcloth skirt (in) is an example of typical pre-colonial clothing worn by people living on the Marshall Islands. It is made from two bundles of long bast strips, which are bound by a fine, braided strap. The bast is stripped from a tree and then dried in the sun. A triangular-shaped, cord mat was often worn underneath the barkcloth skirt (II/1620). The skirt was fastened with a belt made from pandanus leaves (II/1320). A long, finely-braided string (II/1320) was then wrapped around it many times over. The manufacture of these skirts was often highly elaborate, thus making them very valuable.
Donated by Eugen Brandeis (Imperial Governor of the Marshall Islands) April 1900, collected by Antonie Brandeis (Jaluit) /Donated by Eugen Brandeis (Imperial Governor of the Marshall Islands) April 1900, collected by Antonie Brandeis (Jaluit)
Object no. 7 (Object list Antonie Brandeis, 1st consignment April 1900, SAF D.Sm 35/1): "Bastrock. in. bast". Additional comment: "In earlier years, the clothing of the Marshall Islanders consisted of a wide bast skirt No. 7 for the men, as can also be seen on Photogr. No. 7 and 8. A triangular mat No. 13 is tied underneath. The bast skirt was fastened over a belt of pandanus leaves No. 8. A finely woven cord No. 9, the most valuable part of the garment, was tied around this belt several times. The skirt is made of raffia (lo), which is pulled from a tree and dried in the sun." (in: "Bemerkungen zu den dem Museum zu Freiburg /B. übersandten ethnologischen Gegenständen aus den Marshallinseln. South Seas". SAF D.Sm 35/1).
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The name of this item is missing in its original language. If you know the name or have any comments, please use the form to get in touch with the institution that provided the data.