A collection of Zulu handcrafts and jewelry belonging to Dr. William A. Backenstoe of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and his wife Mamie Backenstoe of Windsor, New York, who worked as medical missionaries under the auspices of the Free Methodist Church of North America in Natal, South Africa and Portuguese Mozambique between 1903 and 1932. Collection includes:
A large, coarse brown cloth, possibly made of sisal fiber or coconut coir, approximately 46 in x 61 in. Good; numerous small and medium-sized holes and scattered stains. A small paper label pinned in one corner, reading “Property of Mrs. Dr. W.A. Backenstoe.”
One wooden staff with carved elements and beaded ornamentation, 30.5 in long. Very good; light+ scratching; some dust to beaded element.
One large carved wooden cup with handle and simple ornamentation in dark stain, w 7 in x h 6 in. Very good. Two hairline cracks and several small scrapes at rim. A small paper tag reading “Property of Mrs. Dr. W.A. Backenstoe” in bowl of cup.
Three carved wooden ladles, 12.75 in, 12 in, and 13.75 in long. One with simple carved ornamentation, one with simple ornamentation in dark stain, and one with both carved ornamentation and stained details. Very good. Scattered minor scratches and chips.
One hand broom with woven handle, w 1.75 in x h 12.75 in. Very good-. Moderate fraying and breakage to some bristles.
Three small lace doilies, knitted or crocheted. Each 3.25 in diameter. Very good. One with light+ soiling.
One cotton net doily with shell border, 9.5 in diameter. Very good-; cotton net with light+ discoloration, one shell lost and one shell loosening.
One linen napkin with elaborate pulled thread embroidery, w 11in x h 11 in. Good+; moderate general discoloration and minor fraying to a few sections of embroidery.
One segment of coarsely woven cloth, w 13.5 in x h 11.75 in, with simple geometric border worked in red thread. Very good-; moderate, even discoloration throughout with a few areas of darker soiling; some minor fraying.
Six woven straw pouches, five in natural colors with a simple check pattern, each between 3.75 and 5.5 in long; one with a more elaborate geometric pattern in yellow, blue, and white on a red background, 4 in long. One additional incomplete pouch, lacking top, in natural colors with simple check pattern. Very good+.
One porcupine quill, 7.75 in long. Very good; minor scuff near one point.
Two braided straw necklaces with beaded elements, 16 in long and 13.5 in long. Good to Very good-; Beaded elements somewhat dusty; shorter necklace with a break in braided straw.
Two braided straw bracelets, 3.5 in and 3 in diameter. Very good+; somewhat stiff but otherwise undamaged.
Set of bangles, 2.5 in to 3.5 in diameter. Three with metal components, one made of twisted straw. Good; metal bangles with significant rust.
Woven straw band with ornamental “bow” made of reed or bark, w 2 in x h 2 in. Very good; somewhat stiff but otherwise undamaged.
12 black and white fluted beads, each approximately 0.25 in. Good+; somewhat dusty.
One beaded bangle, 3.5 in diameter. Very good-; somewhat dusty, a few beads lost and somewhat stiff.
Three double-strands of trade beads, 31 in, 15 in, and 8 in long. Good+ to very good; longest strand broken at one end, though still complete or nearly so; all three strands somewhat dusty.
Four lengths of beadwork woven in an open lattice pattern, each 17.5 to 20 in long and approx. 1 in wide. No clasps, but all four pieces appear to be knotted off and “finished.” Good to good+; three with some damage or loss to ends of strands; remaining strand with loss to central portions of weaving.
Five pieces of beadwork, possibly necklaces, featuring square medallion patterns varying in size from 1 in x 1 in to w 3.5 in x h 3.25 in. Good+; all moderately dusty, and all but one having lost several (apparently between two and approximately fifteen) beads.
Three lengths of densely woven beadwork, two with strands of individual beads at corners and one with evidence of such strands. w 1.5 in x l 16.5 in; w 1.5 in x l 14.25 in; w 1.25 in x l 12.5 in. Good; all moderately dusty with minor bead loss, primarily to corners of woven portions or to strands of individual beads extending from corners. One piece completely lacking individual strands of beads, with some loss of beads to the woven portion at the corners where the strands were once attached.
Three beaded belts: w 1.75 in x l 26 in, w 1.75 in x l 19.5 in, and w 3 in x l 28.75 in. Good+ to very good-; all moderately dusty with very minor bead loss (apparently fewer than 10 beads lost per belt). One belt with a strand of individual beads detached from one corner.
Three beaded necklaces: w 1 in x l 14 in (open triangular weave), w 0.75 in x l 19.5 in, and w 1.5 in x l 14.5 in. Good+; all moderately dusty with minor to minor+ bead loss. BG Consignment. More