Shawl Item Number: 2878/2 a from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Light brown shawl made of two pieces of textile sewn together. There are several lines of geometric designs on the bottom of the textile next to the fringe, which include: “zyak chot” or line dance design, “mun-gu-zyeek chot” or fly design, “bir-ra kum-ba chot” or male goat (or markhor/wild goat) crossed horn, “o-si-chin gam-bu-ri chot” or sallow tree flower design (which is found in the centre), and "mishari chot" or mixed design. The designs are woven from several different colours of wool. The reverse side shows the loose thread ends from the designs. (Part b is a needle used for fastening).

History Of Use

To wear this shawl, a woman wraps it around her body at the height of her armpits starting with one (undecorated) edge lined up above the right breast. It is then wrapped around the body at the back (armpit height) and the woven end goes over the left shoulder and is brought across the chest and pinned to the original edge of the wrap above the right breast.

Narrative

This shawl was woven by a woman from the Dramase clan in the Rumbur Valley. It is made by weaving two separate strips of exactly the same size and design patterns, which are then cut off the loom and stitched together down the center, creating a single garment. The two outermost lines of woven design (those at the top and bottom) represent a line of dancers linked arm in arm.

Item History

What

Name
Shawl
Identification Number
2878/2 a
Type of Item
shawl
Material
wool fibre and dye
Overall
height 133.5 cm, width 88.5 cm

Who

Culture
Kalash
Previous Owner
Tamarin Productions Inc.
Received from
Tamarin Productions Inc. (Seller) and Ruth Read Bequest (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Northwest Frontier, Pakistan

When

Collection Date
during 1990
Ownership Date
before May 4, 2011
Acquisition Date
on May 4, 2011

Other

Item Classes
textiles
Condition
good
Accession Number
2878/0002 a