- Bachelor belt
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Bachelor belt
- Place of origin:
Kachin State (made)
Burma - Date:
ca. early 20th century (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown
- Materials and Techniques:
Cotton. Dye. Cowrie Beads. Braid. Plain and supplementary weft weave. Dyeing.
- Museum number:
IS.145-1993
- Gallery location:
In Storage
Physical description
Handwoven white warp and weft cotton. It is decorated with geometric patterns in red and black wool supplementary weft technique. Ends finished with long tassels of strung white cowrie beads, black pom-poms and fine cotton red braid.
Place of Origin
Kachin State (made)
Burma
Date
ca. early 20th century (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Cotton. Dye. Cowrie Beads. Braid. Plain and supplementary weft weave. Dyeing.
Dimensions
Length: 180 cm, Width: 18.5 cm
Object history note
A Kachin bachelor's belt is the first item that a young Kachin girl learns to weave. She begins first with the lining in a plain weave and then progresses to simple traditional geometric patterns in a supplementary weft or tapestry weave on the front side. These belts are presented to young men by their relatives and sweethearts.
Descriptive line
A bachelor belt of a man of one of the hill tribes of Kachin State northern Burma. Plain and supplementary weave with traditional geometric patterns in red and black finished with tassels of cowrie beads, pom-poms and red braid. c. early 20th century.
Materials
Cotton; Dye; Cowrie shells; Braid
Techniques
Weaving; Dyeing
Categories
Textiles; Accessories
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
