Description
This woman’s wrapper, worn tied around the waist as a skirt, was formed from eight strips of plain weave cotton that were dyed and sewn together. The term bògòlanfini means “mud cloth” in Bambara, a language spoken in Mali. Completing a single garment is a multistep process, with men weaving the cloth strips on narrow horizontal looms while women paint the background around the motifs using fermented mud. Bògòlanfini is used for both women’s, and men’s garments and specific geometric designs provide the wearer with protection and signify their status.
Provenance
Accession Number
111165
Medium
Cotton, eight narrow strips of plain weave; pieced; resist painted and printed
Dimensions
125.7 × 102.9 cm (49 1/2 × 40 1/2 in.); Approximate strip: W.: 12.7 cm (5 in.)
Classification
textile
Credit Line
Purchased with funds provided by the Textile Society