Collar for neck of a chirpi 1930 - 1940

This Collar for a chirpi’s neck, whose maker we don’t know, is a fabric construction of two different pieces of cloth: a plain weave on the side, and then this glorious panel of red with what looks like an embroidered or appliqued design of colourful triangles. I can’t help but wonder about the act of making, the hours spent with the fabric in hand, the needle moving in and out, bringing these lively shapes and colours into being. It's like slow painting, stitch by stitch. I imagine the anonymous creator, perhaps humming a tune, lost in the rhythm of the craft. It reminds me a bit of Gee's Bend quilts, where everyday materials become extraordinary works of art. There’s something so special about textiles, how they carry stories and traditions, becoming a part of our daily lives. You know, it makes you think about the endless conversation of makers and artists across time, each inspiring the next, in a way. It's a form of expression that lets us embrace imperfection, and find new meanings in the everyday.