A Pair Shin Guards: Natural Fiber and Rag Weave

early to mid twentieth century
each: 10 3/4" x 15 1/2", 27.25 cm x 39.25 cm

This pair of accessory was used as a shin guard. It was worn as part of an outfit comprised of other gear worn by a laborer or farmer.

Shin guards were worn to protect the wearer's otherwise bare legs from abrasion as they foraged in forests or felled trees or planted crops. It is said they also protected from snake bites and from similar attacks of small animals that might be lurking in underbrush.

This pair is particularly interesting because it is said to have a base of woven rice straw while there are warp-based stripes of cotton rag--primarily decorative one can presume--that dominate the front of each of the shin guards.

The combination of straw fiber with sakiori or woven rag is unusual and in this case interesting to see.

Each of the two pieces has a fringe at the bottom, one of the two is missing quite a bit of the center portion of the fringe.

Rustic and unusual, this pair is recommended for its inherently rural qualities.