Ceremonial object - JOHN FREDERICK HARPER COLLECTION: CEREMONIAL SASH, 1950-1990's

Physical description

Object. Blue, damask weave fabric sash, 240 ms long(including fringing) woven with a rose design, and with a .8 cm wide white satin-finish stripe, just inside the side edges. A gold type metallic fringing, 5 cms deep, finishes each end. A woven panel just off centre of the sash, includes eleven figures, including children, three shields, a globe hand and heart. Radiating from the words- FRIENDSHIP LOVE AND TRUTH is an eye like shape, radiating light. At the lower edge of the panel, woven into the fabric are the words, MANCHESTER UNITY of the INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. Above the woven panel is an ornate metal star, 10 cm x 10 cm, with eight points, and made from silver metal sequins and coiled wirework. Centre of the star is padded to a height of 1 cm, covered in satin, sequins and wirework in a circular shape. A 7 cm long metal tassell hangs from the lower edge of star. A length of silk ribbon, 1.2 cm wide is attached to the lower edge of the sash, perhaps to tie and hold the sash in position when being worn.

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