Accession Number
1986/1.198

Title
Mud cloth

Artist(s)
Senufo

Artist Nationality
Senufo (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
circa 1960

Medium & Support
woven cotton

Dimensions
61 7/16 in x 110 1/4 in (156 cm x 280 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Haas

Label copy
While originally this cloth was decorated for use in garments of a secret Senufo society, at a later stage, through pressure of some European merchants desirous of supplying the Western markets with objects of African craft, they became embellished with an endless variety of designs and compositions of great aesthetic appeal, being used mostly then as wall hangings. An example of traditional decorations is exhibited here, where the design develops along the strips of textile. The Senufo craftsman paints the cloth while it is stretched on the floor, using a knife as a brush and a type of ink made from mud and the juices of certain leaves, which needs to be exposed to the sun to become fast.

Primary Object Classification
Textile

Collection Area
African

Rights
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Keywords
cotton (textile)
figures (representations)