To make this sumptuous garment,

a master Yorùbá weaver working on

a horizontally oriented, double-heddle

loom wove ten individual lengths of cloth,

which were then stitched together with

alternating patterns. While men were

responsible for the actual weaving of

aṣọ-òkè, women played a crucial role in

the early stages of production, assisting

in the planting and harvesting of cotton,

the spinning of the cotton into thread,

and afterward, the dyeing and preparation

of the threads for weaving.

The distinctive motif in silk of a rectangle

with an arrowlike projection at one end, which

runs across alternating strips and is framed

by green and magenta triangles, is based on

the form of a writing board that was used in

Qur’anic schools to teach Arabic. The pattern

speaks to the history of trade and exchange

between Yorùbá and Islamic. We were told this

was a wedding gift in Africa. Textile measures

75" X 49" and other than 2 spots on the back

the cloth is in excellent condition. Sale supports

Vermont's PuppeTree. Thank you & please

check our Support Store.