Object class: Baskets by technique / Collection place: Shabaha, Saudi Arabia / Collector: Joy Hilden - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Object class Baskets by technique Collection place Shabaha, Saudi Arabia Collector Joy Hilden

Hearst Museum object titled Chest ornament, accession number 9-23810, described as A neck and chest ornament, naid sar, of leather made of a pair of braided and twined tassels with lead bead ornaments. A string of glass and plastic beads is attached to both pieces of the pair at center chest. Each long tasseled ornament is made of two ropes, braided around a core, folded into a loop at the top end. The ropes are bound together tightly below the loop with circles of twining and lead beads, with beaded and tasseled strings hanging from that. Each of the ropes is bound similarly at midpoint, with white glass beads circling those bindings and more tassels at the ends. The bottom ends are decorated the same way as the middle ones. The ropes are fastened together loosely at the two decorative points with string. The two ropes are fastened together through the top loops with a 10" circle of blue electrical cord. Braiding and twining of leather strips circa 1/16 inch wide. Twining 11-12 EPI. Lead, plastic and glass beads, tassels.

Hearst Museum object titled Chest ornament, accession number 9-23813, described as A neck and chest ornament of leather, made of a pair of braided and twined tasseled ropes with lead and bead ornaments. Each long tasseled ornament is made of two ropes, braided around a cloth core, and folded in half to create loops with circlets of twining and lead beads, with leaded and tasseled string hanging from those. From here the ropes divide into twos, with twined and lead-beaded circlets on the four ropes at midpoint and lower end. Circlets of white glass beads decorate the tops and tassels hang from their ends. Each pair of ropes is fastened with string at the circlets, and at the tops of each of the middle and end circlets two sets of colored beads 9" long extends across the chest to corresponding tassel. The two decorated ropes are attached at the top loops by nylon net 12" long. Twining too closely covered by lead beads to determine thread count.

Hearst Museum object titled Coffee bean bag, accession number 9-23809, described as A knotted and braided coffee bean bag, mibin, of goat leather giving latticework effect with twined areas and lead bead decorations. Braided drawstrings, which passes through a series of braided loops, is broken and has two tassels at each end. Braided handle is 24" in length and has lead bead ring ornaments. The bottom has 2 finger-like appendages on either side of the main panel, 2.75" wide. All three are hollow and decorated with twining and lead beads in line and wave patterns. The ends are finished with curly leather tassels. A band of twining in the middle of the bag has lead beads worked into it in diamond patterns. Leather strips used are 1/8" - 1/16" wide. 9 EPI in twining, 6 EPI in knotted open area, approximately 15 rows per inch. Tassels on lead-beaded.

Hearst Museum object titled Face ornament, accession number 9-23814, described as Flap of a woman's tote bag, now an ornament with a stick through the top and string for hanging. Several pieces sewn together. The supporting piece extends for the full length and width and is twined of thick leather strips, 1/4" - 3/16" wide. A row of braids is sewn onto the bottom over the warp ends. Two pieces are sewn to the top edge, reinforced by a piece of heavy cotton underneath. The top piece is a strip of plain 4" wide leather which folds over the top, is perforated with diamond shapes and decorated with a grid of cowrie shells. To its bottom edge is sewn a 3.25" wide piece of fine leather twining with lead beads in a wave pattern. It's warps extend to four twined lead ornamented-flaps, narrow braids, and four plaited flaps decorated with cowrie shells, from which hang discs of 1.5" tin (cans?) and a piece of a shell. To reinforcing cloth under the top assemblage is sewn a fringe of narrow braids about 10" long. The bottom piece of the ornament is twined like the top piece, 4" wide, with a fringe of thin braids and 5 plaited flaps covered with cowrie shells. It is decorated with lead beads forming a wave pattern. The overall effect of the piece is of leather, with negative shapes where leather is not covered with beads. The white cowrie shells and tin provide contrast. It is a sturdily made and handsome piece. As with all the other leather pieces, it has been impregnated with strong smelling oil or fat - goat fat? 6 EPI, 9 picks per inch. For decorative pieces, 10 EPI, 18-20 picks per inch.

Hearst Museum object titled Headband, accession number 9-23812, described as A woman's headband, igal, (Generic name for women's headdress in Hijaz: "gna") which is worn over a head shawl and helps to hold it in place. Fine leather strips have been twined in a spiral direction around a cloth core. Lead beads are clamped on to form a positive/negative design in diamonds and triangles. A lattice-work panel warps around it and hangs down the back. It is 18" long x 1.75" wide. 3 square flaps, twined and decorated with lead beads and small tassels, hang at the top, bottom, and middle of panel. Twining and knotting used. 12 EPI, 13 rows per inch for twining. Beads seem to be flat pieces which are clamped around the leather strips

Hearst Museum object titled Headstall, accession number 9-23807, described as headstall, bridle (thrown out, see circumstance of object*) (4-strand braid) The piece has three parts: iron hardware connecting the two. The assemblage of chain and hoops is 23" long, and was undoubtedly made in the village. The headstall is twined tapestry using synthetic yarns. It is lined with white cotton and decorated with three sets of triple tassel groups in double tiers, mostly in synthetics but also with some faded over dyed sheep wool. Colors are mainly maroon and orange, with some blue, green, and white. Z-plied, unknown dyes used. Nicely finished tassels. Headstall backing sewn on with neat embroidery stitches. *Headstall used to be with bridle, but bridle thrown out in August 2011 due to severe moth damage. Headstall stored with moth balls. Bridle made of goat hair and of complicated construction, square braid alternating between sections of doubles and singles. Each section is separated with beautifully embroidered blanket stitch rings in varied colors. 8'3" long.

Hearst Museum object titled Storage bag, accession number 9-23806, described as woman's storage bag, mizwadeh sagheera, small, crudely made seems to be made of primarily synthetic yarns, with some cotton. Much of it appears to be unraveled from woven or knitted items and then re-spun. Little ends of yarn protrude everywhere. Colors are gaudy, design uninteresting, in multi-colored strips of similar widths. Only dots of horizontal stripes relieve the monotony. A strip of twined tapestry triangles decorates the flap edge. Closing loops at the mouth of the bag tell the story of a woman with weaving skill and knowledge in her past. Nicely made four-strand braids form loops at the opening for hanging the bag. Made for self. Probably one of a pair, though I didn't see its mate. Z-ply, 10 EPI. Warp-faced plain weave, twined tapestry, braiding. Edge of bag opening turned under and stitched roughly, with loops protruding from top edge. Matching loops are woven into flap side of opening. Sides of bag fastened together with crude chevron stitch. Short fringe at edge of twined tapestry is the starting end of the weaving, each end looped to its return partner.

Hearst Museum object titled Wedding ornament, accession number 9-23815, described as This is a very old well-made piece which must have been very handsome when new. It is made of a formerly red cotton print, a white cotton lining, goat hair fringe on top, and leather panel with flaps on the bottom. The cotton body is 13" long and is neatly sewn to its lining. Goat hair fringe has a twined, colored base and is held upright by stitches running through the tops. Cowrie shells form a grid on the body of the piece. Other cloth was appliqued in parts of the grid, with cowrie shells sewn over some of it. The open appliqued areas have mostly worn off. Buttons with circles of white glass beads have been randomly sewn on to mimic the pattern in the print. The two 1/4" leather panel on the bottom was twined with very fine leather strips 1/16" wide. Lead beads form wavy lines, creating diamond shapes. The flaps are of plaiting, twining, and braids, 5.5" long, are decorated with lead beads, cowrie shells, and some incised mother-of-pearl (?) shells. Z-ply. 10 EPI in leather twining.