Sheloa Mat in a Wenge Box Frame

This is a Sheloa Mat purchased by a client during a trip to Zambia. Made from woven grass, the mat has been secured to the Ivory Conservation board by stitching inside the border fold so that the thread is hidden. The wood we used here is Wenge, a beautiful dark hard wood usually used for fine furniture. The corners have a contrasting Maple wood spline, this traditional joining technique greatly strengthens the mitre joint and adds a decorative touch to the frame. The two woods perfectly complement the dark and pale colours of the mat. This Box Frame has 15mm hand cut spacers which have been covered with the same Ivory coloured board used for the mount. The vegetable pigments used to dye the grass are light sensitive so Conservation glass, offering 99% UV protection, has been used to glaze this frame. The Wenge profile is 20 x 35mm in size and the frame is 590 x 660mm.