Back Strap Item Number: E138 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Dark brown leather, rectangular shaped back strap, decorated with a stamped pattern of two rectangle shapes that taper to a point edged consisting of repeated lines of circles and semi-circles. In the centre are four circles inside of each other made of various geometric shapes: rectangles, diamonds and semi-circles. Both ends are looped and have braided fibre twine attached.
History Of Use
A back strap is used with the relatively simple back strap loom. The loom is tied to a tree or a house post, while the back strap passes around the weaver's waist and is attached to either end of the front loom bar. By simply moving forward or back, the weaving tension can be adjusted. Primarily used by women.
Cultural Context
textile weaving
Item History
- Made in Guatemala
- Collected by Robert Richards during 1971
- Owned by Robert Richards before August 1971
- Received from Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source) and Robert Richards (Seller) during August 1971
What
- Name
- Back Strap
- Identification Number
- E138
- Type of Item
- strap
- Material
- leather skin, fibre and cotton fibre ?
- Manufacturing Technique
- tooled and laced
- Overall
- height 10.4 cm, width 63.9 cm, depth 4.8 cm
Who
- Culture
- Maya ?
- Field Collector
- Robert Richards
- Previous Owner
- Robert Richards
- Received from
- Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source) and Robert Richards (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Guatemala
When
- Collection Date
- during 1971
- Ownership Date
- before August 1971
- Acquisition Date
- during August 1971
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0179/0010