Bundle of three reeds

Museum number:
9-23085
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21090023085
Accession number:
Acc.4789
Object count:
4
Description:
bundle of three reeds" fine evenly spaced teeth within frame - 3 frames wrapped in band of fabric which possibly is an example of weaving using this tool. Probably used in weaving on a backstrap loom rather than a frame loom.
Donor:
Estate of Karin Nelson
Collection place:
Japan
Culture or time period:
Japanese
Collector:
Dai Williams
Object type:
ethnography
Function:
1.2 Gathering
Accession date:
March 20, 2012
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
whole— length 5 inches, whole— height 18.5 inches, and whole— depth 2 inches
Comment:
It is described as an "unknown object," but it is a bundle of three reeds (the technical name for the tool) used for weaving. They probably (because of the narrow width) were used on a backstrap loom rather than a frame loom. My guess is that the strip of cloth tying the three reeds together was probably woven using one of them. It appears to be woven with handspun cotton yarn dyed locally with indigo. The weaver used the remnant to secure her precious reeds for storage, and Dai found them that way. What an evocative object.
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 3 titled Bundle of three reeds, accession number 9-23085, described as bundle of three reeds" fine evenly spaced teeth within frame - 3 frames wrapped in band of fabric which possibly is an example of weaving using this tool. Probably used in weaving on a backstrap loom rather than a frame loom.Hearst Museum object 2 of 3 titled Bundle of three reeds, accession number 9-23085, described as bundle of three reeds" fine evenly spaced teeth within frame - 3 frames wrapped in band of fabric which possibly is an example of weaving using this tool. Probably used in weaving on a backstrap loom rather than a frame loom.Hearst Museum object 3 of 3 titled Bundle of three reeds, accession number 9-23085, described as bundle of three reeds" fine evenly spaced teeth within frame - 3 frames wrapped in band of fabric which possibly is an example of weaving using this tool. Probably used in weaving on a backstrap loom rather than a frame loom.

Tools