Robe Item Number: 3619/1 a from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Part of a three piece gbariye (also see 3619/1 b-c). Sleeveless white robe with large arm openings; robe flares out underneath the arms. Robe consists of strips of cloth stitched together along the long edges. Background of strips is white, with silver and dark blue stripes overtop; threads are metallic. Openwork bands, made up of repeating crosses, along lengths of strips at varying distances. Heavy embroidery around neck opening and across chest; done in pink and grey. Circular neck opening, with split, is trimmed with wide border made up of bands of swirls; edges of border are scalloped. Three flower-like designs frame bottom edge of neck opening on front; diamond, made up of swirls, frames bottom edge of neck opening on back. Two slits cut into either side of the chest; surrounded by identical borders and flower-like designs. Interior of robe is unlined.
Sewn from aso oke cloth strips.
Collected by Titilope Salami in Nigeria, for the MOA Sankofa exhibition in 2021.