Sports Belt, Germany, ca. 1865
Embroidered belt, ca. 1865. The embroideries are made of wool and small glass beads. In the glass beads embroideries the words have been embroidered: fresh, pious, good health, happy, free. These words are part of the motto of the German gymnastics movement. The founder of the movement was "Turnvater Jahn".
Johann Friedrich Ludwig Christoph Jahn * August 11, 1778 in Lanz (Prignitz); † October 15, 1852 in Freyburg (Unstrut), known as Turnvater Jahn, was a German pedagogue, nationalistic publicist and politician. He initiated the German gymnastics movement, which was linked to the early national movement, to prepare German youth for the struggle against the Napoleonic occupation. From the gymnastics movement he founded, among other things, today's sport of apparatus gymnastics emerged. Numerous gymnastics apparatuses such as high bar and parallel bars were introduced by him.
The belt was probably worn by a woman. Leather ends with metal fasteners. Inside lined with light leather. Well preserved. Embroidery loss in the wool area. At one point a loose border. Initials WK. A rare piece from the early period of the gymnastics movement in Germany.
Length: ~ 80 cm (incl. leather strap)
Price: 290 Euro
