Textile Item Number: K2.155 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Long, rectangular cotton textile consisting of seventeen long identical strips sewn together; edges are over crossed and machine sewn. Unfinished on the ends. The textile has a repeating stripe design in cream, black, and brown.
History Of Use
Cloth woven with a tripod loom can be gifted between families, offered to influential people, or utilized as funeral shrouds. Today, the use of synthetic fibres, instead of natural handspun cotton, has become widespread. While weavers used to be almost exclusively men, women have now started adopting the technique.
Specific Techniques
Stripweaving done with a tripod loom. Stripweaving done with a tripod loom. Mende weavers of Liberia and Sierra Leone are reputed to be some of the first to use the stripweaving technique, possibly influenced by the region’s Islamization.
Item History
- Made in Liberia
- Owned by Abi Jones before January 15, 1970
- Received from Abi Jones (Seller) and Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source) on January 15, 1970
What
- Name
- Textile
- Identification Number
- K2.155
- Type of Item
- textile
- Material
- cotton fibre and dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- woven and sewn
- Overall
- height 211.6 cm, width 159.1 cm
Who
- Culture
- Mende ? or Vai ?
- Previous Owner
- Abi Jones
- Received from
- Abi Jones (Seller) and Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Liberia
When
- Ownership Date
- before January 15, 1970
- Acquisition Date
- on January 15, 1970
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0159/0005