Heddle Pulley

Item number Ag67 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

Data
Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Bird-shaped figure in the formation of a v-shape. No eyes, but has a beak with a hole through the side of the neck. The belly projects outward with a ridge along the middle. A small tail is at the back. The legs form a v-shape and each have a hole through them. On a base (part b).

History Of Use

Heddle pulleys are used in strip-weaving, a process that uses very small looms to produce long, narrow strips of cloth. These strips are sewn together to create a larger textile, such as a blanket or a piece of clothing. The small looms are highly portable and easy to assemble. Heddle pulleys, positioned above the loom, help ease the movement of the warp threads. Carved by master carvers, or by the weaver themselves, they are often decorated with animal figures, such as gazelles or hornbills, and more rarely with human figures. Some heddle pulleys evoke the characteristics of the animal portrayed and others offer protection.