Knowledge Sharing Platform
Sash
Sash
Sash
This relative, a red finger woven sash, features yellow bands created by resist or mordant technique, which are interwoven with glass beads in large, bold hourglass and diagonal lines that suggest thunderbird and 'bird track' patterns. Although the origin of this relative is uncertain, it has probable connections with the Anishinaabe and is believed to have been made in the 1750s to 1810s.
This relative currently resides in the National Museum of Ireland.
Similar items are from the late eighteenth century collections such as the Caldwell collection in the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Read More About This Relative
red woolen yarn and black bison hair, white pony beads
two yellow horizontal bands on the woven portion and two on the fringes created with a resist dye or with a mordant applied after; no quillwork wrapping on fringe
Notes from Alan Corbiere and Crystal Migwans: hourglass motifs may refer to thunderbirds, and the diagonal lines that come off the central horizontal lines suggest eagle or heron talons, feet or tracks.
Use of mordant or other technique to create yellow band is an 18th century decorative tradition.
Provenance
Royal Dublin Society
National Museum of Ireland records.
About This GRASAC Record
Maker, Name unrecorded. Sash. GRASAC ID: 26370. National Museum of Ireland Collection, 1880.1937.
This record was augmented by Dana Murray on November 2, 2024. It was informed by notes and images collected during the GRASAC Research trip to the National Museum of Ireland on July 23, 2010. Participants included Alan Corbiere, Ruth Phillips, Crystal Migwans, Rachel Hand, and Nikolaus Stolle, who were assisted by Padraig Clancy and Emma Crosby.