Garment constructed of narrowband handspun, dyed dark indigo with small white threads in warp forming subtle squares in design; extensive embroidery; geometric designs including large embroidered circle on back.

Images(2)

Man's Robe (riga)

Maker Hausa Artist

Maker Nupe Artist

Datelate 20th century

Place of originNigeria, Africa

MediumCotton, silk, indigo

Dimensions47 5/8 in. x 8 ft. 5 9/16 in. (121 x 258 cm)

ClassificationsClothing and accessories

Credit LineMuseum purchase, funds provided by the Caroline Julier and James G. Richardson Acquisition Fund

Object number2009.32.18

Collections

AFRICAN

Visual DescriptionGarment constructed of narrowband handspun, dyed dark indigo with small white threads in warp forming subtle squares in design; extensive embroidery; geometric designs including large embroidered circle on back.

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Riga indigo blue very narrow band (5cm w.) striped. Extensive embroidery on front with the numerous eyelets called "a thousand ant holes". Black has simple, well embroidered circle. Fabric is light/fine. 158 cm. (lower width)

Man's Robe (riga)

Hausa Artist

late 20th century

Man's Robe (riga or girke fari)

Hausa Artist

early 20th century

Natural cotton women's weave with center stripe of indigo (dark blue) and kola dyed threads.

Handwoven cloth

Hausa Artist

c. 1973

Blue handwoven cotton cloth, hand stitched, wide waist with narrow legs. Hand embroidery of geometric and arabesque motifs in orange, green, burgundy, and white wool thread; waistband lined with light blue commercial cotton sheeting.

Man's Ceremonial Trousers (wando)

Hausa Artist

20th century

Tunic with wide sleeves made of commercial cotton sheeting, with machine stitching; hand embroidered collar using red and tan thread against dark blue cloth, red ribbon trim on collar and waist level; resist dyed linear motifs in white against indigo, geometric patterns and 8 crocodiles or lizards on front, symmetrical design.

Man's Tunic

Bamileke Artist

20th century

Tunic with wide sleeves constructed from narrow handwoven strips, made of hand-spun cotton; alternating alizarin, dark blue and white stripes, indigo and white ikat stripes; tan thread used for 11 embroidered "knot" motifs on center of front; also embroidered on back, top; pale blue commercial cotton cloth lining.

Man's Tunic (dansiki or gbariye dandogo)

Nupe Artist

20th century

Two panels (handsewn together with red silk) in fine spun wool dyed black with heavy embroidery at the four corners in gold thread, yellow, green, red, blue silk. Embroidered patterning consists of geometric motifs resembling an architectural setting (gables and columns) or a jeweled crown with pendants; along the borders, linking the heavy inlay at the corners are small silk crosses in the above-mentioned colors. Fringes at either end are made of twisted silk threads in red, orange, mauve, gree…

Woman's Wedding Cloth

Amazigh Artist

20th century

Cotton damask cloth (bazin); geometric designs embroidered on front and back, and openwork in off-white silk thread (tunic); headtie and skirt are made of same damask (no embroidery)

Woman's Robe (tilbi)

Baba Djitteye

20th century

A black robe with an embroidered badge on the front. A silver pheasant is embroidered on the badge, a motif of the 5th-rank civil official. The bottom half and the neck are bordered in a brocade applique consisting mostly of butterfly and floral designs made in green and blue thread. The front of the sleeves has blocks of magenta, grey, pink, cerulea, and pale yellow filled with different patterns including birds of paradise, lotus flowers, the eternal knot, and Buddhist swastika symbol. Black c…

Black Robe with Rank Badge of Silver Pheasant

Chinese Artist

early 19th century

Handspun cotton, handwoven into strips, sewn on selvedges, resist dyed with indigo dye; allover pattern of small white triangles

Scarf

Aboubakar Fofana

20th century

Handspun and handwoven strips, white cotton warp with wool weft, band of red on either end; floating weft patterns, geometric designs in black, red and ocher. Some loss of weft patterns and side finishing of black looped threads

Blanket (khasa)

Malian Artist

20th century

White and blue striped tunic with open neck, wide sleeves and pleats made of handspun and handwoven narrow strips; lined with sacking material

Man's Tunic

Dagomba Artist

20th century