Sponsored by TWIST - Tablet Weavers International Studies & Techniques
Two years ago I had the great pleasure of analysing about 50 Burmese tablet woven inscription bands. These were originally used to wrap palm leaf manuscripts and bore motifs and long texts from the people who had given them to a temple. They were collected by Ralph Isaacs and some are now on display at the Brighton Art Gallery and Museum, Royal Pavilion, Brighton. They were little regarded , even used as packing cords, when he first came across them in Burma. My analyses and Mr Isaac's translations are available at the museum for students. They are up to 6 metres long but only 3 cm, or less, wide, woven of fine cotton in many colours. They start and end with warp-twining but the main part in simple double-faced weave. They have a woven loop at one end, a braided tail at the other. Apart from the beautifully elegant lettering, there are animals, fish, birds, gongs, flag poles, and geometric designs. Weavers will be familiar with some of these motifs from similar ones seen in Otfried Staudigel's new book Some are absolutely stunning masterpieces. It is wonderful that Mr Isaac's has made this collection and donated it to the Brighton museum, so they are now available for the study they deserve. Indeed, at this moment Otfried is at Brighton examining these bands and photographing any motifs new to him, for subsequent analysis... and I hope publication. Peter Collingwood Send private reply to peter collingwood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----------------------------------------------------------- To stop receiving tabletweaving (not tabletweaving-digest), send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: unsubscribe tabletweaving. To stop receiving tabletweaving-digest, see the end of a digest.
