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 composed of 13 strips, sewn together to create cloth with cream, black, and brown, horizontal stripes; this warp pattern is known as kulu nyei. It was given to Bill Fagg in 1959, by Paramount Chief J.W.Quee of Kowa chiefdom in Moyamba district.

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Further Information

• Type: Textiles, cloth
• Object: Country Cloth
• Materials: Textile
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: 2320mm [L] x 1435mm [W]
• Production Date: Pre 1959
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: J. W. Quee
• Museum: British Museum
• Accession Number: BM:Af.1959.7.7

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