Back cushion

Museum number:
9-23025
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21090023025
Accession number:
Acc.4789
Description:
Long and narrow back cushion woven from rice straw ("wara") in a horizontally-plaited pattern. Two shoulder carrying straps extend from top in gradual V-shape, slightly diverging; at their culmination, straps become V-shaped braids; braids combine into single braid that gradually thin into cords. Cords attach to lower half of cushion along sides. Horizontal straw plaits wrap over sides to form soft, thick, rounded edges. Cotton rag woven into cushion on side that lies against wearer's back: multicolored pieces at bottom edge; braided purple, blue, and whitish rag along the middle; and black and white rag vertical along straps at base with single horizontal strip of rose pink cotton rag. Outside or "front" of cushion features loose, flattened, untwisted straw extruding from plaited straw in criss-cross design and a horizontal strap made from cord looped through lateral cords and tied together in the center. length - 28.5", width - 10", thickness - 1.5
Donor:
Dai Williams, Estate of Karin Nelson, and Karin Nelson
Collection place:
Japan
Culture or time period:
Japanese
Collector:
Dai Williams
Materials:
Cotton (textile) (cotton rag) and Rice straw
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Cushions
Function:
1.2 Gathering and 2.1 Daily Garb
Accession date:
March 20, 2012
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
length 28.5 inches, depth 1.5 inches, and weight 10 inches
Comment:
No tag attached to object.
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 2 titled Back cushion, accession number 9-23025, described as Long and narrow back cushion woven from rice straw ("wara") in a horizontally-plaited pattern. Two shoulder carrying straps extend from top in gradual V-shape, slightly diverging; at their culmination, straps become V-shaped braids; braids combine into single braid that gradually thin into cords. Cords attach to lower half of cushion along sides. Horizontal straw plaits wrap over sides to form soft, thick, rounded edges. Cotton rag woven into cushion on side that lies against wearer's back: multicolored pieces at bottom edge; braided purple, blue, and whitish rag along the middle; and black and white rag vertical along straps at base with single horizontal strip of rose pink cotton rag. Outside or "front" of cushion features loose, flattened, untwisted straw extruding from plaited straw in criss-cross design and a horizontal strap made from cord looped through lateral cords and tied together in the center. length - 28.5", width - 10", thickness - 1.5Hearst Museum object 2 of 2 titled Back cushion, accession number 9-23025, described as Long and narrow back cushion woven from rice straw ("wara") in a horizontally-plaited pattern. Two shoulder carrying straps extend from top in gradual V-shape, slightly diverging; at their culmination, straps become V-shaped braids; braids combine into single braid that gradually thin into cords. Cords attach to lower half of cushion along sides. Horizontal straw plaits wrap over sides to form soft, thick, rounded edges. Cotton rag woven into cushion on side that lies against wearer's back: multicolored pieces at bottom edge; braided purple, blue, and whitish rag along the middle; and black and white rag vertical along straps at base with single horizontal strip of rose pink cotton rag. Outside or "front" of cushion features loose, flattened, untwisted straw extruding from plaited straw in criss-cross design and a horizontal strap made from cord looped through lateral cords and tied together in the center. length - 28.5", width - 10", thickness - 1.5

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