Head Band
1700-1799 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This object is a bridal headband from the Egerland, a German-speaking area in the north-east part of the Czech Republic. The pendant leaves were deliberately hung loosely from their mounts, so that they flickered when worn, reflecting the light and making a noise like bells. This was intended to deflect any potential evil from the bride, and demonstrates the survival of a belief dating back to medieval times.
It was given to the museum in 1908, together with some other Dalmatian traditional jewellery, by Aymer Vallance, a leading member of the Oxford Movement in the 19th century, and a supporter of William Morris’ Arts and Crafts. It was originally described as a Norwegian belt, probably due to the numerous leaf-shaped pendants.
It was given to the museum in 1908, together with some other Dalmatian traditional jewellery, by Aymer Vallance, a leading member of the Oxford Movement in the 19th century, and a supporter of William Morris’ Arts and Crafts. It was originally described as a Norwegian belt, probably due to the numerous leaf-shaped pendants.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cardboard covered with plain woven textile, probably silk (once red, now cream), to which has been applied a silk velvet ribbon (once black now brown), with gilt metal appliqués. Almost all of the pile has been lost from the velvet, except behind where the motifs are sewn. |
| Brief description | Stiff head band with gilt metal appliqués and leaf-shaped pendants (Glockenbendel), Egerland (Czech Republic), 18th century. The headband made of stiff material covered with plain woven linen or silk (originally red, now cream) to which a silk velvet ribbon (once black, now brown) has been applied. |
| Physical description | Band made from a strip of stiff material, covered on the front with black (now faded to a dark brown) velvet, and on the back with cream (formerly red). There are 17 gilt metal appliqués sewn along the front of the band, each with six rounded points, like a snowflake, and with a large hook sticking out at right angles in the centre. Each hook supports a gilt metal leaf-shaped pendant. Two rosettes are sewn, side by side, to each end, each with a large loop at the outer side for fastening. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Gift of Aymer Vallance |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This object is a bridal headband from the Egerland, a German-speaking area in the north-east part of the Czech Republic. The pendant leaves were deliberately hung loosely from their mounts, so that they flickered when worn, reflecting the light and making a noise like bells. This was intended to deflect any potential evil from the bride, and demonstrates the survival of a belief dating back to medieval times. It was given to the museum in 1908, together with some other Dalmatian traditional jewellery, by Aymer Vallance, a leading member of the Oxford Movement in the 19th century, and a supporter of William Morris’ Arts and Crafts. It was originally described as a Norwegian belt, probably due to the numerous leaf-shaped pendants. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 512-1908 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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