Copyright Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield, MA

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Sash

Finger-woven clothing accessories such as sashes, straps, bags, and legging garters were among the most distinguishing features of Native American attire in the 18th century. These items were functional as well as decorative. Sashes such as this one would have been draped across the shoulder or wrapped around the waist as a belt. It was tightly woven without the aid of a loom in an intricate flat braid. White "seed" beads form a decorative design that relates to patterns on Ojibwa or Ottawa sashes, garter pendants and bandolier bags from the Eastern Great Lakes region. Eunice Kanenstehawi Williams and her husband Arosen reportedly gave this sash to Eunice's brother, the Reverend Stephen Williams of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Eunice and Stephen had both been captives of the 1704 raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts, but Eunice elected to remain with her Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) family at Kahnawake in Canada.

Date: 1700 - 1750 
Topic: Personal 
Materials: Wool, beads, hemp
Dimensions: L: 72 in.(182.8 cm.), W: 3 in.(7.6 cm.)  
Accession #: IR.A.24


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