Heddle Pulley Item Number: Af493 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Light brown wood piece, two-thirds of which is u-shaped. The other third is woman's neck and head. Hair, textured by incised lines, is pulled far back on forehead and forms three crests running front to back. Carved facial features are in relief: protruding lozenge-shaped eyeballs and eyelids, long crescent eyebrows, long narrow nose, and jutting chin with open lozenge-shaped mouth. Row of incised diamonds at top of u structure. Vertical perforation at back of head has twisted and knotted light brown cotton cord passing through. Extensions of u structure each have hole for attaching roller at perpendicular angle. Roller is now missing.

History Of Use

Called a heddle pulley and used with a variety of African looms. Cords attached to cross bars of loom are suspended from it. A series of peddles operated by feet, or cords attached to feet, raise or lower the heddles and thus, the warp elements. Cord of this heddle pulley for suspending loom from above.

Cultural Context

weaving; textiles