Adire eleko woman’s wrapper (“Olokun/Sea Goddess” design)

NameWoman's wrapper cloth

Artist Artist unrecorded

CultureYoruba

Dateca. 1960s

Place madeNigeria, Africa

MediumCotton, indigo dye

Dimensions76 3/8 × 70 1/16 × 1/16 in. (194 × 178 × 0.1 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Barbarine Rich, A.2018.4.5

Object numberA.2018.4.5

ProvenanceThese textiles were sourced by Dr. Duncan Clarke, who earned his PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, specializing in aso oke (Nigerian strip weaving). He published a number of books on West African textiles and works as a high-end dealer in London. The donor purchased the textiles from Dr. Clarke. She began selectively collecting textiles many years ago and intended to launch her own private textile museum in a house beside the Wheelwright Museum on Museum Hill in Santa Fe. These plans were stalled and more recently abandoned when her young daughter was discovered to be terminally ill; she began to divest her large textile holdings.

DescriptionThis elaborately patterned wrapper consists of 20 central blocks measuring approximately 32cm by 36cm in different geometric (triangular, circular, dot, stripe) and figured patterns. Only five of the patterns repeat. Bordering the blocks are rectangular forms, again geometric and figured. The stylized figures represent vegetation, sea animals, birds, snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles.