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1999.33.50

Cover for a bicycle seat.

1999.33.50

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Collection type
Object
Description
Cover for a bicycle seat.
Long description
Cover for a bicycle seat. The cover is made of a top panel of bright pink silk which has been embroidered in orange silk thread. There are three loops of gold braid which is made of couched metallic threads, stitched by hand to the top panel. These threads are made of cotton around which a fine layer of metal has been rolled, they are not taken through the background fabric but applied onto it. The couched threads are laid parrallel to each other and caught down by a small white cotton stitch. This work is common in Pashtun nomad embroideries. [In this piece I am not sure whether the threads are laid next to each other and then stitched or whether the threads are actually a pre-made sort of braid which has then been stitched down on the top of the panel. MdeA 29/11/99] A wider strip of gold coloured braid has been stitched around the bright pink silk. The top panel also has a beaded tassel edge. The edge is made of purple silk yarn which has been threaded with three white beads and then twisted to form a tassel. There are several pendant twisted threads. Three white beads are attached to the bottom of each pendant thread. Beneath the silk layer there is a layer of plain red cotton textile and then the cover is backed with a red cotton textile which has been printed by machine with a floral design. This textile is probably recycled from another textile such as a dress. All three layers have been stitched together to create a tear-shaped form with hanging beads all around the edge. Loops of couched gold threads have been stitched to the narrower end of the cover to secure the cover to the bicycle seat. The upper side of the cover is faded and the silk worn in a couple of places. [MdeA 29/11/99]
Cultural groups
Pashtun
Person
Field collector Marina de Alarcón
Field collector Mark Axworthy
PRM source Marina de Alarcón
Date / Period
Date made: Circa 1940?, uncertain
Date collected
29 September 1999
Acquisition information
Purchased: 18/10/1999
Materials and processes
Material Cotton Seed Fibre Textile Plant, Material Bead, Material Cotton Seed Fibre Yarn Plant, Material Silk Textile Animal, Material Metal, Material Silk Yarn Animal, Process Stitched, Process Embroidered, Process Recycled, Process Beadwork, Process Woven, Process Machine-made
Dimensions
Length: max 395 mm, Width: max 324 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1999.33.50
Research and responses

For further information on this type of embroidery see 'Afghan Embroidery' by Roland Paiva and Bernard Dupaigne published by Musée de L'Homme, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Fondation de France. [MdeA 29/11/99]

See also page 40 of the above publication for a photograph of an object showing the techniques and materials used in this object. [MdeA 29/11/99]

Search terms: Transport and Travel, Textile, Furniture Dwelling, Bead, Cushion

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