barkcloth
- Museum number
- Af1954,+23.2000
- Description
-
Barkcloth sample.
- Dimensions
-
Length: 115 centimetres
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Width: 85 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- See J H Weeks, 'Among Congo Cannibals', 1913, p.85 (on Boloki = Bangala):
For some years after we arrived at Monsembe [in 1890] the old folk wore bark cloth. A strip of bark 18 inches long by 5 or 6 inches wide, and 1 ½ inches thick was taken from the tree - the wild fig tree, or from a tree called ngumbu. The strip of bark was soaked in water for a time, and then beaten with an ivory mallet as it lay across the palm of the hand. The strip of bark gradually widened to 18 inches, and lengthened to 3 or 4 feet. Some cloths were very evenly beaten, so that no holes appeared; others were not so well done, and holes and uneven places showed in the finished cloth. Likuta was the name given to the finished cloth. I never saw any weaving among these Boloki folk, but they told me of an ancient native-made cloth called pelele ; but I never saw a specimen of it, and cannot speak of its texture.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1954
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1954,+23.2000
- Additional IDs
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Previous owner/ex-collection number: 160579 (Wellcome number)