Head-Cloth thumbnail 1
Head-Cloth thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Head-Cloth

ca. 1920 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Length of woven black cotton cloth one end hand rolled and hemmed the other decorated with a deep border (29 cm) of geometric patterns in green, maroon, orange, white, blue and pink in supplementary weft technique. This is finished in long tassels of tine red braid (the ends bound together in coloured wool) and attached to the main body of the head cloth with a lattice work of brass beads and green, maroon and pink pom-poms.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cotton and wool, thread, dye, brass. Weaving, supplementary weaving, stitching, dyeing.
Brief description
A red and black, heavily tasselled, patterned headcloth made by the Jinghpaw tribe of Kachin State, Burma dating from about 1920.
Physical description
Length of woven black cotton cloth one end hand rolled and hemmed the other decorated with a deep border (29 cm) of geometric patterns in green, maroon, orange, white, blue and pink in supplementary weft technique. This is finished in long tassels of tine red braid (the ends bound together in coloured wool) and attached to the main body of the head cloth with a lattice work of brass beads and green, maroon and pink pom-poms.
Dimensions
  • Length: 156cm
  • Width: 21.5cm
  • Of tassels length: 32cm
Credit line
Given by Jennifer F. M. Horne
Object history
The donor's father was in the Indian Medical Service and this headcloth together with a wrap-skirt (IS.4-2004); a pair of leggings (IS.6-2004); a shoulder-bag (IS.7-2004) and a bachelor belt (IS.8-2004).was acquired by her mother in the 1920s when she was in Burma with her husband.
Historical context
This headcloth would have probably been worn by a woman of the Jinghpaw Tribe who traditionally built their villages on mountain ridges in Kachin State or northern Shan State in north east Burma.
Production
Previously considered by the donor to be from Karen State it was re-attributed by Frances Franklin & Deborah Swallow in 2003.
Collection
Accession number
IS.5-2004

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Record createdMarch 8, 2004
Record URL
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