Museum Explorer
Dress and ornament
in Africa
Cotton and felt gown
From: Liberia
Date: 19th century AD
This is a man's gown from Liberia. Gowns like this one are usually made up of narrow strips in different colours and materials sewn together. They also often have red felt bands around the pockets and neck.
Can you see the large rectangular pocket sewn on to the front? It has a pattern of five squares called 'the five houses'. Patterns made up of five parts were used throughout Islamic Africa to provide protection from the evil eye.
