Haku Country Cloth

Country cloth is a thick, heavy, cloth, traditionally made from locally grown cotton that is spun into thread, dyed, and woven into strips on a tripod loom. The strips are then sewn together edge to edge to form the finished cloth. Such cloth was, in the past, regarded as a sign or wealth and Prestige. This example is very unusual, and has been labelled haku or tortoise back cloth. It is composed of 13 strips sewn together, to create an intricate chequerboard pattern in cream and indigo, resembling the pattern on a tortoise back.

Related Videos

Further Information

• Type: Textiles, cloth
• Object: Haku Country Cloth
• Materials: Textile
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: 2770mm [L] x 1490mm [W]
• Production Date: Pre 1952
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: Freetown Public Relations Office [Year Acquired: 1952]
• Museum: British Museum
• Accession Number: BM:Af.1952.10.2

Related Objects