Man's cloth, 20th century
Asante or Akanexpand_more
Cotton; strip woven, supplementary weft patterningexpand_more
Gift of funds from Regis Foundationexpand_more 2005.134.16
Not on Viewexpand_more
Kente cloth is believed to have originated in Ghana in the mid-17th century. The first cloths were made of locally produced cotton and embellished with simple patterns of stripes and designs of indigo-dyed thread on a white ground. This piece, although more elaborate than the earliest cloths, is representative of the most traditional and enduring styles.
Both Ewe and Asante weavers produce this type of cloth in the old style. This piece is most likely to be Asante in origin, based on the geometric adwen (designs) and the use of the Akyem (shield) motif in the border and in the blocks of patterning. Two of the strips are noticeably shorter than the others; the weaver probably lost track of the pattern progression, as the shortage is equivalent to one full susudua (design block).
Details
- Title
- Man's cloth
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2005.134.16
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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