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29. Rush Mat

Rush mats are often viewed as common household items making up the floor of the house, bench coverings and often attached to the walls as decoration. However, they also had important ceremonial uses, serving as consecrated surfaces on which to lay sacred bundles, for sitting or standing on for mediation or prayer. Rush mats also served as burial shrouds. Hence the frequent appearance in the mats of sacred images and designs.

Bulrushes form the warp (lengthwise-running stems) of the rush mats while cord made from stinging nettle makes up the warp or cross-wise fibers. The earliest mats have subtle patterns, more tonal variation rather than contrasting colors. By the late 1800's commercial dyes became available and brighter colors were used in the designs, but usually natural rushes formed the background.

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