Acholi table-mat
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1998.9.14 .1
Country:
Uganda , [Sudan]
Region:
Masindi District Kibanda County Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement [Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Acholi?
Maker:
Members of the Pentecostal Church women's group
Date Made:
By 1997
Materials:
Wool Textile Animal
Process:
Crocheted
Dimensions:
Diam = 252 mm; the central star Max L = 200; central hole diam = 11 mm [RTS 17/2/2005].
Weight:
19.7 g
Local Name:
latam me umo meja
Other Owners:
Made by members of the Pentecostal Church Women's Group; bought from the group by Tania Kaiser in 1997 for 5500 Ugandan shillings (for 1998.9.14.1-5 all together); sold to PRM on 19th January 1998.
Field Collector:
Tania Kaiser
PRM Source:
Tania Kaiser
Acquired:
Purchased 19 January 1998
Collected Date:
1997
Description:
Circular doily crocheted from a pale cream-coloured wool (Pantone 461C), and consisting of a central hole with a tightly crocheted 6-pointed star pattern around it, then 6 looser scallop shell motifs set into the spaces between each point, leaving a semicircular gap at their base and creating a scalloped outside edge.
The object is complete, and well made without any errors.
There are no surface stains or fading of the colour, and this piece may not have seen any use.
It has a weight of 19.7 grams, and a diameter of 252 mm; the central star measures 200 mm across its maximum length, while the central hole has a diameter of 11 mm.
Made by members of the Pentecostal Church Women's Group; bought from the group by Tania Kaiser in 1997 for 5500 Ugandan shillings (for a group of five such mats); purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum on 19th January 1998.
These pieces are called latam me umo meja, which has the literal meaning of 'thing for covering table'. They could also be thrown over the backs of chairs and used as an antimacassar. For the other mats in this set, see 1998.9.14.2-5. The doilys have been all made to the same design, but differ slightly in size (this is the smallest).
These sorts of handicrafts are made either individually by women, to use, or as gifts, or by women's groups associated with churches or small local development projects, as was the case with this object. These tended to be sold within the community, and some women complained that they lacked the materials needed to carry out this kind of work.
For details of Kaiser's work in Uganda, see: T. Kaiser, 1999, Living in Limbo: Insecurity and the Settlement of Sudanese Refugees in Northern Uganda (Unpublished PhD); T. Kaiser, "Making Do and Making Beautiful: Recycling in an African Refugee Settlement", in: J. Coote, C. Morton and J. Nicholson (eds), Transformations, the Art of Recyclying, 44-47; T. Kaiser, 2000, UNHCR's Withdrawal from Kiryandongo: Anatomy of a Handover , New Issues in Refugee Research Working Paper No. 32, 1, 3.
Rachael Sparks 29/8/2005.
Made by members of the Pentecostal Church Women's Group; bought from the group by Tania Kaiser in 1997 for 5500 Ugandan shillings (for a group of five such mats); purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum on 19th January 1998.
These pieces are called latam me umo meja, which has the literal meaning of 'thing for covering table'. They could also be thrown over the backs of chairs and used as an antimacassar. For the other mats in this set, see 1998.9.14.2-5. The doilys have been all made to the same design, but differ slightly in size (this is the smallest).
These sorts of handicrafts are made either individually by women, to use, or as gifts, or by women's groups associated with churches or small local development projects, as was the case with this object. These tended to be sold within the community, and some women complained that they lacked the materials needed to carry out this kind of work.
For details of Kaiser's work in Uganda, see: T. Kaiser, 1999, Living in Limbo: Insecurity and the Settlement of Sudanese Refugees in Northern Uganda (Unpublished PhD); T. Kaiser, "Making Do and Making Beautiful: Recycling in an African Refugee Settlement", in: J. Coote, C. Morton and J. Nicholson (eds), Transformations, the Art of Recyclying, 44-47; T. Kaiser, 2000, UNHCR's Withdrawal from Kiryandongo: Anatomy of a Handover , New Issues in Refugee Research Working Paper No. 32, 1, 3.
Rachael Sparks 29/8/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Day book entry -
20/1[/98].
D[onation].
MdA.
[donor] TANIA KAISER.
1998.9.
AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINIDI DISTRICT, KIRYANDONGO REFUGEE SETTLEMENT.
Collection of objects collected by donor.
Accession entry? - Set of five crocheted furniture covers, of varying sizes, each cover with a central star shape. They may also be used as antimacassars for chair backs. [CW 6/4/1998].
Related Documents File - RDF 1998.9: Acquisition Record, dated 19/1/1998, for 'collection of material from Uganda'. Memo dated 21/1/1998 from Jeremy Coote to Julia Cousins, dated 23/1/1998 regarding enclosed invoice for £150 from Tania Kaiser for 'collection of artefacts from Northern Uganda'. This object appears on an attached list as item 15: "Set of 5 crochet furniture covers. latam me umo meja - lit. thing for covering table. Can also be used as antimacassars for chair backs. Made out of cream wool. Made by members of the Pentecostal Church Women's Group which meets once a week. The Church supplies the material and sells the handcrafts produced (more cheaply to members than to others). Bought for 5,500 U[gandan]Sh[illings]". Purchased by PRM for £8. There is also a typed document on file, titled "Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Masindi District, Uganda. Background to objects collected from a predominantly Sudanese Acholi community in 1997 by Tania Kaiser". The refugee settlement is described as being 14 kms from Kiryandongo town, near Bweyale and Nyakadot. The population is predominantly Acholi, but other groups represented there include Latuko, Madi, Bari and some Zande. There is a small market within the settlement itself, but many people go to the market at nearby Bweyale. Handcrafts are rarely sold in the settlement or in Bweyale in any systematic way. Most commonly made objects are embroidered tablecloths or bed sheets and crocheted food covers or chair backs; these tend to be produced individually by woman to use or as gifts, or by women's groups associated with churches or small local development projects, who sell them to members of the community; none so far have managed to establish an external market. Individual women complain that they are unable to undertake these sorts of activities as they do not have access to the necessary materials [RTS 15/12/2003].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT, SUDANESE ACHOLI? Set of 5 crocheted furniture covers. Coll. Tania Kaiser, 1997, 1998.9.14.1-5 [plastic tag with metal eyelets, tied to group of objects]; PITT RIVERS MUSEUM AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Furniture cover. Coll. Tania Kaiser, 1997. 1998.9.14.1 [textile label, sewn onto object; RTS 17/2/2005].
Accession entry? - Set of five crocheted furniture covers, of varying sizes, each cover with a central star shape. They may also be used as antimacassars for chair backs. [CW 6/4/1998].
Related Documents File - RDF 1998.9: Acquisition Record, dated 19/1/1998, for 'collection of material from Uganda'. Memo dated 21/1/1998 from Jeremy Coote to Julia Cousins, dated 23/1/1998 regarding enclosed invoice for £150 from Tania Kaiser for 'collection of artefacts from Northern Uganda'. This object appears on an attached list as item 15: "Set of 5 crochet furniture covers. latam me umo meja - lit. thing for covering table. Can also be used as antimacassars for chair backs. Made out of cream wool. Made by members of the Pentecostal Church Women's Group which meets once a week. The Church supplies the material and sells the handcrafts produced (more cheaply to members than to others). Bought for 5,500 U[gandan]Sh[illings]". Purchased by PRM for £8. There is also a typed document on file, titled "Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Masindi District, Uganda. Background to objects collected from a predominantly Sudanese Acholi community in 1997 by Tania Kaiser". The refugee settlement is described as being 14 kms from Kiryandongo town, near Bweyale and Nyakadot. The population is predominantly Acholi, but other groups represented there include Latuko, Madi, Bari and some Zande. There is a small market within the settlement itself, but many people go to the market at nearby Bweyale. Handcrafts are rarely sold in the settlement or in Bweyale in any systematic way. Most commonly made objects are embroidered tablecloths or bed sheets and crocheted food covers or chair backs; these tend to be produced individually by woman to use or as gifts, or by women's groups associated with churches or small local development projects, who sell them to members of the community; none so far have managed to establish an external market. Individual women complain that they are unable to undertake these sorts of activities as they do not have access to the necessary materials [RTS 15/12/2003].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT, SUDANESE ACHOLI? Set of 5 crocheted furniture covers. Coll. Tania Kaiser, 1997, 1998.9.14.1-5 [plastic tag with metal eyelets, tied to group of objects]; PITT RIVERS MUSEUM AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Furniture cover. Coll. Tania Kaiser, 1997. 1998.9.14.1 [textile label, sewn onto object; RTS 17/2/2005].
