Code: Ewe670 - Another exceptional museum quality Ewe chief’s cloth, this early example (cirac 1900) is complete and in excellent condition. It may be compared with fig 92 in Adler & Barnard's book African Majesty that despite being incomplete and rather stained is often regarded as the finest cloth in that collection. Our piece has a more reddish brown, almost aubergine coloured, background but a similar overall feel in terms of motif and layout, and could indeed be the work of the same master weaver. The emphasis in the designs is on zigzags and triangles, some of which are schematic representations of ceremonial regalia such as umbrellas and royal swords, although other motifs depict birds, animals etcetara. Each weft float patterned block is balanced by an equal sized block of weft-faced stripes creating a balanced regular layout and bringing overall design unity to the piece. Cloths with this level of decoration were extremely expensive to commission and would only have been worn by the wealthiest men. Today we very rarely find cloths of this quality, and this is among the finest we have collected. Dates from circa 1900-10s. Size: 130 ins x 70, 330cm x 177, Price: SOLD.
If you would like to order this cloth please make a note of the code number and click the link to go to the Order Information page.