Africa, the arrival of Europeans and the transatlantic slave trade

Woman's girdle

Made in Sierra Leone, date unknown, latest 1942
Wool and metal

Object number 0.6146
Collected and given by Dr E Bosdin Leech, 1942

See this object at The Manchester Museum, University of Manchester This object may not always be on display. Please check with the venue before visiting.

Woman's girdle

This woman's girdle is from Sierra Leone and was probably made some time before 1940. It is made from plaited blue wool, the ends of which are divided into three cords bound with red, white and yellow wool, each with three blue wool pom-poms attached. There is a little cross stitch embroidery at the ends, and the centre is ornamented with red beads and plaques of metal, some lozenge shaped, some coins or imitation coins. There is a large coloured bead at either end of this section.

Sierra Leone was established by the British to repatriate ex-enslaved Africans.

This information was provided by curators from The Manchester Museum.