Materials

The body of this sash or band is woven out of red dyed wool, with three light yellow or beige strips across its width placed at evenly spaced intervals. Its two outer warps are black yarn, creating a black edge. Some areas of the sash have been reinforced with beige woolen yarn. Small white pony beads are interwoven throughout.

Techniques or Format

Finger woven, with interwoven beads. A leaching dying technique has been used to make three beige strips across the sash's width at evenly spaced intervals. The beads are interwoven into the sash, however, the fringe, made from the loose warps, is unadorned. It may have originally been one piece, or two garters sewn together.

Motifs and Patterns

The sash has a central motif of a diamond, from which radiates chevrons and diagonal lines. On both sides of this central diamond and radiating chevrons is a central band of chained diamonds. On either side of this chain are bands of diagonal parallel lines echoing the angle of the chevrons.

Other Notes

It is difficult to tell whether this sash was made from sewing two pieces together or as one piece.

Condition: Fair to poor. There is some bead loss and one hole in the sash.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Based upon stylistic characteristics, this item was likely made between 1750 and 1815.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am1921,1014.106

Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Collection Narratives and Histories

The British Museum purchased this sash from the Yorkshire Philosophical Society Museum in 1921.

GKS Reference Number: 26797

How to Cite this Item

Unknown artist, sash. Currently in the British Museum, Am1921,1014.106. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 26797.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC) research trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum and British Museum, December 8-22 2007, funded by a grant from the International Opportunities fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), John Borrows (JB), Lindsay Borrows (LB), Alan Corbiere (AC), Henrietta Lidchi (HL), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).