Ikat Yoruba Men’s Cloth

£1,110.00

AS774 – Massive ikat patterned aso oke men’s cloth made for trade to Ghana

Out of stock

Description

This huge men’s wrapper cloth with a subtle ikat effect and restrained palette is a rare legacy of the trade in Yoruba aso oke textiles overland from Nigeria to Ghana that flourished from the late nineteenth century to the 1960s. Some traders used bicycles like pack horses, pushing the laden bike across Togo and Benin to Ghana. A hand spun indigo dyed cotton weft sets of a typically effective warp stripe pattern with a simple warp ikat in the central stripe. It was collected in Ghana and a close look at the back will reveal how several smaller Yoruba cloths were reassembled to create the larger size demanded in the Ghana marketplace. Hand sewn throughout, the cloth has a soft worn handle but is in excellent complete condition. Dates from around the 1920s.
Measurements 141 inches x 92, 359cm x 234.

All items on this site are vintage. That means that they may have a few small marks or blemishes consistent with use. We will try to highlight any significant issues in the description above but in the event you are not happy with your purchase please notify us within 48 hours of receipt and you may return it for a full refund (excluding return shipping costs.)