Men's ewe cloth

NameCloth

Maker Gilbert Ahiagble (Ghanaian, 1944 - 2012)

CultureEwe

Date2006

Place madeDenu, Ghana, Africa

MediumCotton

Dimensions66 15/16 × 101 9/16 × 1/16 in. (170 × 258 × 0.1 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Barbarine Rich, A.2018.4.16

Object numberA.2018.4.16

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 man's cloth consists of seventeen handwoven strips in green, tea blue, and multicolored (three appearing a pinkish tan and one copper) sewn together. Featured are traditional, figurative, and geometric inlay motifs. These motifs include chameleons: symbol of patience; umbrellas: symbol of versatility; whimsical pink elephants: symbol of successful leadership, as well as a heart on a chain.