Lecture: Sanada-Himo Woven Bands at the Oriental Museum Wednesday 7th November 2018 at 7:30



Sanada-Himo Woven Bands


Lecture: Wednesday 7th November at 7:30
Lecture room 009
Durham University.

Sanada-himo are the traditional woven bands from Japan. These have been used to tie scrolls, paulownia boxes containing precious objects and on Samurai armour. This lecture will show that even relatively humble artefacts can have a surprising history. They have their own origin legends as well as traditional uses. Bands in the collection of the Oriental Museum will be used to illustrate one classic use. Ignorance of their meaning caused dismay amongst curators in another museum. Nowadays the bands' usefulness shows how they have been adapted for the modern world.

A demonstration will be given of how they are woven. 

Lecture by Susan J Foulkes.  She has been researching woven bands in Northern Europe for a number of years. Her interests extend to weaving historical textiles such as the astonishing belt of Ramesses 11 in the World Museum, Liverpool. A depiction of Alexander the Great wearing a woollen belt, probably as an amulet, led her to produce a possible copy. She has had numerous articles published in craft journals. In Archaeological Textiles Newsletter she examined the weaving implements from the Roman period which are still used today to produce narrow wares like the Sanada-himo bands.  Her articles are listed on her blog at https://durhamweaver64.blogspot.co.uk/

She has made many YouTube videos about the techniques of weaving and self published four books.
Her latest book is to be published by Schiffer in July 2018.  Weaving Patterned Bands: How to Create and Design with 5, 7, and 9 Pattern Threads. A preview can be viewed HERE.


All lectures commence at 7.30pm and are held in Lecture Room 009, Elvet Hill House, Durham (next door to the Oriental Museum), unless otherwise stated.

Lectures are free for Friends of the Oriental Museum, £3 for visitors (£1 for concessions). Booking for lectures is not required.

To find out more about the Oriental Museum click HERE.

Friends of the Oriental Museum 
Durham University.


The Friends of the Oriental Museum were formed with the intention of supporting the Oriental Museum. The Friends are a charity, independent of the museum itself, whose aims are to promote and support the museum. Find out more about the Friends by clicking HERE

  • Benefits of membership
  • Free admission to the museum
  • Advance notice of events and exhibitions
  • Invitations to previews of new exhibitions
  • Discount on purchases from the museum shop
  • Regular updates on gallery redevelopments
  • A programme of lectures, events, and activities throughout the year
  • Annual newsletter, the 'Orient Express’.

For further information on the Friends, please contact us at fomdurham@fastmail.co.uk









A workshop for weaving Sanada-himo bands will be offered at the Oriental Museum on Saturday 17th November 2018.  Time: 12:15 - 4:15 Cost: £22.00
The cost of the workshop includes all the weaving equipment needed to continue this fascinating craft at home. More information will be available soon. 
Pre-booking is essential as places are limited.

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