Connecting food, family, and art from across the globe
Explore objects from diverse cultures that were made for preparing and sharing food, and then weave a place mat for your table.
The containers below were made for cooking, storing, and serving food. Learn about the materials used to make these containers, observe the interesting patterns and designs on these objects, and weave a special place mat with materials found at home.
Covered Vessel with Relief Design of Arabic Inscription in Kufic Script, 10th century; Persian, Iran, Samanid dynasty; steatite; height with cover: 5 7/8 inches, diameter of cover: 8 5/8 inches, width across handles: 9 3/4 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Museum Purchase 71:1949a,b
Tripod Food Vessel (ding) with Design of Zoomorphic Masks, Dragons, and Spiral Patterns, 12th century BC; Chinese, Shang dynasty; bronze; height: 9 3/8 inches, width across handles: 7 3/4 inches, depth: 8 3/8 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of J. Lionberger Davis 31:1951
Tlingit artist; Basket, c.1900; spruce roots, grasses, and maidenhair ferns; height: 17 1/2 inches, diameter (top): 24 5/8 inches, diameter (base): 14 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Funds given in memory of Donald N. Brandin 60:1995
Woven Paper Place Mats
Weave a special place mat of your own using materials found at home. Gather materials such as those listed below to get started.
Suggested materials
Card stock paper, patterned paper or magazines, glue or tape, pencil, markers, crayons, scissors, ruler
Instructions for making your own woven paper place mat
Take a thicker piece of paper, such as card stock, roughly 8.5 x 11 inches in size. This will be the base for your place mat. Fold the paper in half by making a hamburger fold. To create a hamburger, fold the paper in half horizontally.
Using a ruler, measure and mark lines on the fold to create approximately half-inch strips or sections. These lines can be straight, wavy, or zigzag. Cut along the marked lines starting from the folded edge of the paper, leaving about an inch at the end uncut. Open the folded paper to see the sliced lines.
Pick a patterned or different colored piece of paper to contrast with the card stock you just cut. Measure and mark lines at half inch or any measurement you like on the vertical side of the paper. Cut along these marked lines to make long strips. Now you are ready to weave!
Weave the paper strips into the slits cut in the place mat. Starting from the back, bring the first strip up through the first slit and down through the second slit. Continue weaving the strips up and down through the slits. Arrange the strips or sections so they are evenly spaced in the slits. Glue the ends of the strips to the place mat to prevent the strips from sliding out of place. Cut the long ends of the strips of paper. Once the glue is dry, decorate your place mat.
Using markers or any coloring supplies you may have at home, decorate the card stock that is visible with patterns.
