Shoulder Cloth Item Number: 2706/2 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Large, heavy cotton, over-the-shoulder cloth, or 'sash'. Long thin woven strips of identical light blue, dark blue, brown and off-white vertical stripes are machine zigzag stitched together and the long ends are edged with a band of navy blue cotton fabric.
History Of Use
Cloth woven with a tripod loom can be gifted between families, offered to influential people, or utilized as funeral shrouds. Today, the use of synthetic fibres, instead of natural handspun cotton, has become widespread. While weavers used to be almost exclusively men, women have now started adopting the technique.
Specific Techniques
Stripweaving done with a tripod loom. Stripweaving done with a tripod loom. Mende weavers of Sierra Leone are reputed to be some of the first to use the stripweaving technique, possibly influenced by the region’s Islamization.
Item History
- Made in Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone ?
- Collected during 1962
- Owned by Eric Roberts before May 22, 2008
- Received from Eric Roberts (Donor) on May 22, 2008
What
- Name
- Shoulder Cloth
- Identification Number
- 2706/2
- Type of Item
- cloth
- Material
- cotton fibre and dye
- Overall
- height 196.0 cm, width 164.0 cm, depth 0.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Mende
- Previous Owner
- Eric Roberts
- Received from
- Eric Roberts (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone ?
When
- Collection Date
- during 1962
- Ownership Date
- before May 22, 2008
- Acquisition Date
- on May 22, 2008
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 2706/0002