Collection online
garment
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Object type
Museum number
Af2004,04.1
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Description
Man's wrap-around garment made of silk, composed of 24 narrow strips joined at the selvedges by hand-sewn overcast stitch. Each strip has a plain weave warp pattern of broad gold and green stripes between red bands separated by narrow black and white stripes. Pattern bands are aligned horizontally across the cloth. Every block of plain weave is filled either with weft-faced solid colour bands or supplementary weft patterns. Unworked warp threads form fringes at both ends.
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Ethnic name
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Date
- 19thC(late)-20thC(early)
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Production place
- Made in: Ghana
- (Africa,Ghana)
- Made in: Ghana
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Findspot
- Found/Acquired: Ghana
- (Africa,Ghana)
- Found/Acquired: Ghana
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Materials
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Technique
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Dimensions
- Length: 296 centimetres (including fringes)
- Width: 198 centimetres
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Curator's comments
Traditionally silk textiles were woven on commission from members of the court or chiefly elite among the Asante. This cloth is an example of a particular design of cloth known as 'adwineasa' ('fullness of ornament'); these textiles had weft designs inserted into every block of plain weave and demonstrated the weaver's technical mastery as well as symbolising the owner's wealth and prestige.
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Bibliography
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Location
On display: G25/dc10
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Condition
Good; stitching on seams loose or missing in places. Small holes along one side.
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Acquisition name
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Acquisition date
2004
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Acquisition notes
Donated to the Museum as a tribute to John Mack (Keeper of Ethnography from 1990-2004). The cloth was initially purchased by the donor from textile dealer Duncan Clarke in 2004.
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Department
Africa, Oceania & the Americas
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Registration number
Af2004,04.1
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Object reference number: EAF83377
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