textile with sea shells

I picked this up a few weeks ago because I have never seen anything like it before, I guess that's why I have so much stuff at my place. I am always buying, what a bad habit I guess.
Anybody know what this is ?

Thank You

Billy D.

 

The shells are cowrie shells. My first impression is that it is African, and perhaps a decorative chest strap for a horse. Still looking for a good comparative example.

 

Just one thing as said that they are cauris, used as a money by a lot of societies, then it's possible to be an attribute to expose your wealth ?
For the provenance as the back seems to be original and machine make it can be from a place where there was exchange between counties(they are typical glass tubes too from bartering places).

 

What are the dimensions?

 

40” long

 

Maybe @Taupou would recognize it.
Patd

 

As the under part seems to be very clean, I think it's made for a man or a woman, not for a horse or similar.
If nobody knows what it is I can ask to the ethnographic curator in Geneva but now it is holidays until the beginning of January.

 

I would certainly be interested. My first thought was also African, but now I'm wondering if maybe it's Indonesian. . . although I think there are enough people here familiar with Indonesian fabrics, some one would have identified it.

It is not (I really don't think), but reminds me of the Indian toran (door/window topper).

 

It appears to have loops at each corner, and one in the middle, for attaching to something. I think @Jivvy is on to something. Googling toran, the examples have the same loops. The embroidery technique also looks more Indian than African (even though my initial impression was African). Sometimes things just need to cook in the brain for awhile.

https://www.royalfurnish.com/produc...embroidered-toran-window-door-hanging-valance

 

I did not even notice that.

 

Nice to hear this instead of a horse, Thanks LEcollectionneur. If you ask the Geneva curator, that would be great, if not, it's still okay, I appreciate your help.

 

I also think nomadic Indian. I thought that was Banjara.

 

No problem to ask to ethnographers, they are here for that purpose, what is important too in my opinion is the use of cauris, because as far as I know they were used as weights or as a money replacement, this can be a way to search combined with trade glass use.

 

I'm curious about the colors and the style of fringe.

 

Still bothered by the colors and fringe and general feel, I was skimming through WORLD TEXTILES (by John Gillow and Bryan Sentance) and came across a Pakistani piece of clothing that started me looking at Pakistani pieces in general and I found this:



From: https://www.sindhcrafts.com/buy/home-decor/embroidered-door-hangings/

I think that's getting much closer.

Edit to add: this is a crop of the pic that sent me off in this direction. Note the shells.

 

I found this one on pinterest/etsy. The photos are very poor, but it has the same square tabs hanging down, the generous use of tassels, and bugle bead trim. Instead of cowries, it uses small mirrors. Identified as from Sindh (a region in Pakistan).

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/353532639480947327/

https://www.etsy.com/listing/981230...le-door-window-hanging?show_sold_out_detail=1

 

Nice find Jivvy, thanks for your search efforts, I appreciate it lots, have a happy new year