Tag: Human Hair

NOW: Inca Wig Cap 1983.491.2

This week’s Nalbound Object of the Week is another Incan wig Cap from Peru. Similar to the cap posted in late July, this is a stunning example with a beautiful set of braid wrapped ends that together make a zigzag pattern.

Cap Woven with Human Hair, 1983.491.2
Photo credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Public Domain

Object: Inca Wig Cap with zigzag braid wraps

Description: A cream colored cap with a broad brown stripe around the middle from which many brown human hair braids are hung. The braid ends are wrapped tightly in brightly colored wraps that form a zigzag pattern across the braids. This cap with braids is 28 inches long.1

Dated to: 14th – 16th century CE, Inca2

Find location: Peru

Material: Camelid & human hair3

Stitch(es) used: Z-crossed Simple Looping (Stitch determination by Anne Marie Decker based on photographs)

Inventory number: 1983.491.2

Current location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Link to museum catalog or other data: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/314614

Photographs:

A black and white photo of the Cap Woven with Human Hair, 1983.491.2, laid out flat.
Photo credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Public Domain

Please note that sharing to other venues will likely be intermittent. If you wish to receive these each week, please remember to follow the blog.
Patrons on Patreon receive early access previews, occasional extra details, and priority requests.

  1. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/314614 Accessed 13 August 2024 ↩︎
  2. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/314614 Accessed 13 August 2024 ↩︎
  3. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/314614 Accessed 13 August 2024 ↩︎

NOW: Ancient Puebloan Sock P89.231, 13th cent

Our next Nalbound Object of the Week is one of the Ancient Puebloan socks from what is now known as the Southwestern United States. There is not a lot of detail available about this sock. What differentiates it from the other socks found in Ancient Pueblo contexts is the very interesting detail of its material.

Ancient Puebloan Sock as on display in July of 2019 at the Bata Shoe Museum.
Photo: Anne Marie Decker 7 July 2019

Object: Ancient Puebloan Sock

Description: A dark brown above ankle sock with a light brown tie at the ankle laced between the stitches. According to the Bata Shoe Museum, it may have been worn alone or with sandals.1 However, unlike several in the Arizona State museum, this one is entirely Simple Looping and is not worked off a braided or woven sole.

Dated to: c. 1200 CE, 13th century CE2

Find location: Southwestern United States3

Material: Human Hair4

Stitch(es) used: Z-crossed Simple Looping, F1 O (Stitch determination by Anne Marie Decker)

Inventory number: P89.231

Current location: Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Canada

Link to museum catalog or other data: Scroll through the online exhibition about socks to find the Ancient Puebloan sock: https://batashoemuseum.ca/socks/ (Click the next link 11 times)

Some sources in which more information can be found:

Arizona State University has a nice article on related Ancestral Pueblo Shoe–Socks, including some really lovely photos of some in their collection.

Please note that sharing to other venues will likely be intermittent. If you wish to receive these each week, please remember to follow the blog.
Patrons on Patreon receive early access previews, occasional extra details, and priority requests.

  1. The exhibition label in 2019 and https://batashoemuseum.ca/socks/ ↩︎
  2. The exhibition label in 2019 and https://batashoemuseum.ca/socks/ ↩︎
  3. The exhibition label in 2019 and https://batashoemuseum.ca/socks/ ↩︎
  4. The exhibition label in 2019 and https://batashoemuseum.ca/socks/ ↩︎