Dublin Core
Title
Cherokee Beadwork D.3
Identifier
D.3
Subject
Ceremony
Sound Item Type Metadata
Transcription
Ah, these are sashes. These are actually ceremonial sashes and there is some mystery about them. They are very intriguing. First of all, as you've seen from the other objects that I showed you, the materials are different. You saw again, these are made with the red, or sometimes it's navy blue, Stroud cloth, wool stroud cloth. But you saw all kinds of colours of beads on every object I've shown you, until we came to the ceremonial sashes. And they always used only white beads. Now, the blue that you see, the contrasting blue you see on both of these sashes, that is either fabric with finger woven fabric or sometimes its braid that is used to decorate it. But those are not beads. The only big colour they ever used prior to removal was the white beads.
Secondly, there's a technique on one of the pieces that is in Scotland But it is a technique that is only used on Southeastern woodlands beadwork, and it's only used on sashes in the Southeast. So it's special. These are very special objects that were worn for the ceremonies or as a depiction of rank of the person wearing it. So the materials are different, the beading technique is different, and most important, the design. Of all the designs that evolved from the mound builders prior to European contact down into beadwork of the early 1800s, is this S-curve. You see it on the one on the left, the one that's displayed vertically. You see that S-curve repeated four times. That also was a big deal. Fours and sevens are big deals to our people. And then on the one on the right, you see the same thing. Now this would have been worn over one shoulder. Just like the bandolier bag. The centre of the strap would have been on one shoulder and then it would have gone across the chest in the back. And then you could see it on the one on the left, the ribbon ties. Those would have just tied on the opposite hip, but there would have been no pouch. These are just the sashes. And they are just to be worn for very, very, very special occasions. So sashes are just a part from everything else. And you guys in Scotland are very fortunate because you have one right there in your museum to study.
Secondly, there's a technique on one of the pieces that is in Scotland But it is a technique that is only used on Southeastern woodlands beadwork, and it's only used on sashes in the Southeast. So it's special. These are very special objects that were worn for the ceremonies or as a depiction of rank of the person wearing it. So the materials are different, the beading technique is different, and most important, the design. Of all the designs that evolved from the mound builders prior to European contact down into beadwork of the early 1800s, is this S-curve. You see it on the one on the left, the one that's displayed vertically. You see that S-curve repeated four times. That also was a big deal. Fours and sevens are big deals to our people. And then on the one on the right, you see the same thing. Now this would have been worn over one shoulder. Just like the bandolier bag. The centre of the strap would have been on one shoulder and then it would have gone across the chest in the back. And then you could see it on the one on the left, the ribbon ties. Those would have just tied on the opposite hip, but there would have been no pouch. These are just the sashes. And they are just to be worn for very, very, very special occasions. So sashes are just a part from everything else. And you guys in Scotland are very fortunate because you have one right there in your museum to study.
Original Format
Video
Duration
2:34 minutes