Zadeltas, versierd met rasterwerk met hakenkruisbloemen c. 1800 - 1900

This is a saddlebag decorated with a grid pattern of swastika flowers, crafted by the Jaffi people. The Jaffi are a Kurdish tribe, and their weavings are visual records of a nomadic existence, and the cultural exchanges that occur across their trade routes. The swastika, here represented as a stylized floral motif, has ancient roots as a symbol of good fortune. This benign meaning was tragically overshadowed in the 20th century, complicating the interpretation and reception of such weavings. Consider the emotional weight of encountering such a symbol, now laden with the history of appropriation and hate. Does seeing it in its original cultural context allow for a reclamation of its earlier meaning? How does this object challenge us to reconcile the beauty of cultural tradition with the painful realities of historical misuse and cultural trauma?