Stamped Cloth Zimbabwe Large African Art

Description

Title
Stamped Cloth Zimbabwe Large African Art
Type of Object
Cloth, Textile, machine made.
Country of Origin
Nepal
People
Tibetan
Materials
Cotton, dyes
Approximate Age
Mid 20th century.
Height (in)
56
Width (in)
200
Depth (in)
6.50
Overall Condition
Very Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners. Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use. We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings. Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.
Damage/Repair
Cracks and chips in teeth.
We do not recommend laundering textiles, and do not accept returns of textiles which have been laundered in any manner.  Even dry cleaning is too much for some of these antique textiles.  For some of them, a very gentle HAND washing  (NEVER MACHINE, on any setting)  in cool water with a very gentle detergent works, but even then, dyes may not be colorfast, and fabric may be less strong than it appears.
Additional Information:
A wonderful Asante stamped cotton fabric identified asa Adinkra cloth. Adinkra cloth  is made out of cotton and decorated with stamps carved from gourds or calabashes. Both the background color and the symbols reflect values of Akan society. See an excellent explanation and examples in "AFRICAN TEXTILES AND DECORATIVE ARTS," by Roy Sieber. The stamps are carved from a calabash/gourd so that the design stands out in relief. Cloth stampers will dip the stamp into a small clay bowl with the dye and stamp the cloth which is laid out on the ground pegged at corners to keep it straight and flat. The dye is made from a water soluble dye that is made locally from bark that comes down from the north. Men stamp and weave the cloth and sew it together while women control the making and selling of the dye, sell the cloth to the stampers, then sell the cloth in the market or to family groups. Each stamp is identified with a proverb, popular saying or dictum. Tradition has it that there were only about 60 different stamps, but old books and scholars have concluded there are many more.
I have examined this piece and agree with the description.
Niangi Batulukisi, PhD.
DL0319
**126718**
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