Wheel of the Year Wardrobe - Woven Braid - Original

Snartemo II Tablet woven band 2025

Pastel drawing

I am a beginner tablet weaver. I began using wooden cards and strapping myself to various pieces of furniture to get the tension. I have progressed onto using an inkle loom and make tablet woven bands for straps, like this one for my drum bag.  The Snartemo band design is replicated from a grave in Southern Norway. From the Lady Elewys of Finchingefeld’s website:

“The three graves at the Snartemo farm were excavated over an 85 year period, between 1847 and 1933, which uncovered a number of fantastic pieces, including a sword, glass beakers, gold rings and more, dating to about 500 AD. Grave II (excavated in 1878) and Grave V appeared to be those of a warrior nobleman, both containing remarkable textiles, including the bands we know as Snartemo II and Snartemo V, the latter being significantly more complex than the former. The simpler band from grave II was woven with 17 tablets in two colors of fine wool using the skip hole technique.”

I wove this as part of an on-going project I began which is to craft items inspired by the book Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. I want to make some finer braids with finer threads (this one is made from thick carpet wool) and use them to trim clothing. Some cultures use trim in this way as an amulet, protecting the borders of the wearer.

This drawing is has a black MDF frame with glass and metal hanging cord. It will be well packaged and sent recorded delivery.

This is an original artwork created for the Wheel of the Year exhibition at Oil and Oak Gallery 7th February - 30th April 2025