Swastika Pouch

Swastika Pouch
Originally uploaded by notionnanny

This unassuming pouch is one of many in Dianne Ayres's collection of Arts and Crafts Movement period textiles. Its startling swastika design was clearly embellished prior to WW2, when the symbol was commonly used to signify good luck. An ancient symbol dating back thousands of years to Zoroastrian Persia, the swastika represented the revolving sun, fire, infinity, and continuing recreation. The Western use of the swastika was subverted in the early 20th century after it was adopted as the emblem of the Nazi Party in their attempt to link the pre-history of European peoples to the ancient "Aryans," also called the Indo-Iranians.