Country Cloth Hammock

A hammock, made from country cloth. Country cloth is traditionally made from locally grown cotton that is spun into thread, dyed, and woven into strips on a tripod loom. The strips are then sewn together edge to edge to form the finished piece. Such cloth was, in the past, regarded as a sign of wealth and prestige. This example uses red, black, and green, dyed cotton, as well as undyed white cotton. The central panel has raised pile, being woven from unspun cotton; this is likely to have been for comfort. Tassels run along the sides, attached to a strip of crotchet-like work. This example came to the British Museum as part of a collection of items from the Methodist Society, suggesting is may be an early example.

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Further Information

• Type: Domestic equipment
• Object: Country Cloth Hammock
• Materials: Textile
• Culture Group: Other
• Dimensions: 1970mm [L] x 8550mm [W]
• Production Date: Pre 1963
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: Methodist Missionary Society
• Museum: British Museum
• Accession Number: BM:Af.1963.13.35

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