In parts of Africa short aprons represented an essential feature of women's dress well into the mid-20th century. Today worn only in ceremonial contexts, these aprons demonstrate the virtuosity and skill of the women who designed and made them. The cowrie shells found on the bottom of many aprons, including this one, indicate the social position of the wearer and also enhance the sound the apron makes when worn. The highly abstract pattern on this apron is relatively unstructured, with a few areas of linear pattern work scattered throguhout the composition, producing an almost three-dimensional effect.