Man's robe

NameRobe

CultureYoruba

DateEarly 20th century

Place madeNigeria, Africa

MediumHandspun cotton, wild silk (sanyan)

Dimensions53 1/8 × 99 3/16 × 3/16 in. (135 × 252 × 0.4 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Barbarine Rich, A.2018.4.15

Object numberA.2018.4.15

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.

DescriptionThe agbada tunic is made of aso oke strips of undyed (beige) wild silk (sanyan) with thin white cotton warp strips. This prestige robe has extensive hand done satin and buttonhole stitch embroidery on the front and back of the garment.