Tumpline Item Number: 2710/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Elm bark tumpline, called tar in the Ainu language. Stiff front panel of woven brown and cream cotton has design of two arrows or rocket ships ? facing each other, with an X shape in the middle. Bark is braided, then twisted into long ties and knotted at the ends.
History Of Use
Tumplines are usually tied to baskets or bundles and worn against the forehead. This frees the hands for collecting, etc.
Narrative
The tumpline was given to Cranmer Webster by the artist in 1997. In 1986 she was invited to an international conference in Sweden, sponsored by UNESCO (she was recommended by staff at the American Museum of Natural History, who had worked with her). At the conference Gloria met Shigeru Kayano (1926-2006), an important political and cultural leader of the Ainu. Gloria, and others at Alert Bay, invited 20 Ainu people to visit them, including Kayano. The visit was celebrated with a dinner in the Alert Bay bighouse.
Item History
- Made by Reiko Kayano (Maker) in Japan during 1997
- Owned by Gloria Cranmer Webster between 1997 and September 3, 2008
- Received from Gloria Cranmer Webster (Donor) on September 3, 2008
What
- Name
- Tumpline
- Identification Number
- 2710/1
- Type of Item
- tumpline
- Material
- elm bark and cotton fibre
- Overall
- height 6.7 cm, width 214.0 cm, depth 1.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Ainu
- Creator
- Reiko Kayano (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Gloria Cranmer Webster
- Received from
- Gloria Cranmer Webster (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Japan
When
- Creation Date
- during 1997
- Ownership Date
- between 1997 and September 3, 2008
- Acquisition Date
- on September 3, 2008
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 2710/0001