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 consists of 13 strips, with undyed warps, and warps in undyed, green, and blue cotton, as well as dyed magenta silk, wefts. There are also bands of undyed cotton and blue zigzags and diamonds. These come together into weft bands running the full width of the textile and large areas of cheque. This piece of cloth was made in 1960, and it can be seen on the Pathe News film real of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visit to the Bo Durbar, on the raised dais and steps where they are sitting.

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Further Information

  • Type: Textiles, cloth
  • Object: Country Cloth
  • Materials: Textile
  • Culture Group: Mende
  • Dimensions: 4270mm [L] x 1720mm [W]
  • Production Date: 1900
  • Associated Places: Unknown
  • Associated People: P. S. Mould
  • Museum: British Museum
  • Accession Number: BM:Af.1987.10.1

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