1948.11.15

Collection type

Object

Description

Bead apron or waist ornament. [MJD DDF Body Arts Project 2010/2011 03/09/2010]

Long description

Bead apron or waist ornament. The beads are in a pattern of blue and pink diamonds outlined in white. The apron has cotton ties and fringe. [MJD DDF Body Arts Project 2010/2011 03/09/2010]

Geographical reference

Guyana

Latin America and the Caribbean > South America > Guyana

Cultural groups

Macusi

Person

Field collector Mrs E.M. Melville

Field collector E.M. Melville

PRM source Mrs E.M. Melville

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1924

Date collected

By 1924

Acquisition information

Donated: 1948

Materials and processes

Material Bead, Material Cotton Seed Fibre Yarn Plant, Process Beadwork, Process Strung

Dimensions

Length 165 mm, Width: max 270 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1948.11.15

Research and responses

Peter Riviere has supplied the following information about beaded women's aprons from British Guyana: 'On highdays and holidays, or festivals, the only covering which the females wore was the quieyoo, an article of dress, worked out of seeds of trees, about ten inches long, and six or eight broad, hung in front of the person by a string fastened round the loins. These are now tastefully worked with beads to represent the flowers, fruits and animals around the Indians in the bush, and will cost from six to ten shillings when sold to Europeans.' (p. 261, Rev Robert Duff, British Guiana, being notes on a few of its natural productions, industiral occupations, and social institutions. Thomas Murray & Co., Glasgow, 1866) (Laura Peers, 16/11/2007)

Search terms: Clothing, Ornament, Children and Childcare, Status, Apron, Waist Ornament, Groin-cover