press (for chechias) | British Museum

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press(for chechias)

Object Type
Museum number: Af1998,01.121
Description: Rectangular wooden press (al-'amara) used in the manufacture of chechias. Made in two pieces of solid wood with three metal hook hinges. Inside is stained red.
Producer name
Production date: 20thC(late)
Production place: Made in: Tunisia, Tunis
Findspot: Found/Acquired: Tunisia, Tunis
Materials: wood; metal
Dimensions: Height: 2 centimetres; Width: 50 centimetres; Depth: 29 centimetres (closed)
Curator's comments: Eth.Doc.362. Wooden press used for pressing chechias (men's skull-caps). The craftsman places a chechia in the press and then uses the press as a seat. He may sometimnes be seated upon several presses in the workshop.
Location: Not on display
Condition: Fair; wood has many holes and abrasions. Inside is stained red in places as dye from chechia has migrated.
Acquisition name
Funder name
Previous owner: Previous owner/ex-collection: Christopher J Spring (British Museum Ethnography Department staff; field collection); Previous owner/ex-collection: Julie Hudson (British Museum Ethnography Department staff; field collection)
Acquisition date: 1998
Acquisition notes: This fieldwork collection was purchased, together with Af1998,02-03, using British Petroleum sponsorship in February-March 1998.
Department: Africa, Oceania and the Americas
Registration number: Af1998,01.121
Conservation