Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Catalog Data

Maker:
Merina artist  Search this
Medium:
Silk, plant fiber, dye
Dimensions:
H x W: 237.0 x 40.9 cm (93 5/16 x 16 1/8 in.)
Type:
Textile and Fiber Arts
Geography:
Madagascar
Date:
1999-2000
Label Text:
Although woven as flat rectangles, lamba, or woven textiles are anything but stiff fabric or static form. The lamba was and remains a communicator of identity, conveying Malagasy notions of social rank, wealth, age, region and ethnicity. The "vocabulary" of a cloth is read in its design, size, color, decoration, fiber and the way it is arranged on the body. Pulled over the head, it protects against cold weather or hides timidity; wrapped tightly around the body, it shows action and determination. Draped over the shoulder, it conveys messages to an admirer or illustrates a flair for fashion. Given its performative potential, cloth in Madagascar is not just worn--it is displayed.
For Madagascar's Merina women born before 1945, a white shoulder wrap has been an indispensable part of formal dress and feminine attire. In the 1960s, most young urban women refused to take up the shoulder wrap, seeing it as old-fashioned and contrary to an active, career-oriented lifestyle. In the mid-1990s, many of these same women--now journalists, politicians and professors--began adopting the shoulder wrap for the first time. They now consider that wearing the lamba allows them to celebrate and assert their Malagasy identity. Most wear it only on formal occasions or for international events, but others have made it part of their daily dress. Nearly all prefer brightly colored shoulder wraps of more contemporary design. The most popular style in recent years has been the MariMar, a light, loose weave named for the heroine of a Mexican soap opera who captivated television audiences throughout Madagascar in 1999 with her rags-to-riches story.
Shoulder wraps are woven of silk, cotton, synthetic and a combination of these fibers. They may be undyed or brightly colored, depending on the style and current fashion.
The light, gauze-like appearance of this shoulder wrap is characteristic of the Marimar style. It is made from mulberry silk and was chemically dyed.
Description:
Single panel loose weave silk shoulder wrap [a] dyed a subtle light salmon color. The open-weave technique creates a light, gauze-like appearance and the edge has a knotted fringe. The wrap arrived inside its own fiber bag [b], with shop label [Manjakalandy] on the shoulder wrap and bag.
Provenance:
Acquired from Suzanne Ramananantoandro, Madagascar, 2000
Exhibition History:
Gifts and Blessings: The Textile Arts of Madagascar Malagasy, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, April 14-September 2, 2002
Content Statement:
As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
Image Requests:
High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
Topic:
male  Search this
Credit Line:
Museum purchase
Object number:
2000-13-15
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source:
National Museum of African Art
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7ead71a84-ccc7-410c-a403-cb4bb4014ac5
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmafa_2000-13-15