Dyed moosehair, white, brown red; vegetable fibre.

The center section is woven with dyed moosehair wrapped into the structure of the woof/weft threads, the technique known as 'false embroidery'.

The center section is elaborated in a pattern of zigzag, with opposing colors in square sections divided in triangles that produce a play of positive and negative space. The woven narrow sections have a patterns of wavy zigzags and parallel lines, continuing the zigzag motif from the center section.

The collection of the Bibliothèque nationale de France dates from before 1792. Autumn Epple thinks based on materials and style that it dates between 1700 and 1760.

The ethnographic works from the Bibliothèque Nationale du France are located in the Musée du quai Branly in Paris. These ethnographic works were brought together in this collection at the time of the French Revolution, around 1792. Many of these works came from the Jardin du Roi, the collection of the French kings. In 1792, inventories were made of the possessions of aristocratic French families in Paris and the provinces and many objects were selected to be added to the Bibliothèque Nationale, which was the national collection of the new Republic. Ethnographic material from the Bibliothèque Nationale was located at the Musée d'ethnographie du Trocadéro, then the Musée de l’Homme, and is now in the Musée du quai Branly.AD.

Unknown artist, burden strap. Currently in the Musée du quai Branly, 71.1878.32.266. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip; GRASAC item id 1270.

Created by Anne de Stecher during an RAship for Prof. Ruth Phillips.

Restricted until the completion of Anne de Stecher's dissertation, 2011.