Ordinary commercially woven cloth is transformed by hand dying with localy made indigo dye. To create the elaborate patterns of adire the artist blocks the dye from reaching the surface of the cloth. This is done by painting or stenciling with a starch such as cassava paste, or by tying or sewing knots and seams. This unnamed pattern is made by folding and sewing the length and width of the cloth to make the lines, and by sewing knots to make circles.
Adire was first produced in quantity in the late nineteenth century, with production dwindling by World War II. The 1960s saw a revived interest in adire with new patterns, and new uses superceeding the original use as women's wrappers.
Description:
Stencil and resist dyed cloth wrapper in indigo and light blue with an overall square and sunburst design with lettering.
Provenance:
Dr. Flora S. Kaplan, New York, collected in Lagos, NCMM, 1985
Published References:
Aronson, Lisa. 1992. "Yoruba Adire Eleko (Paste-Resist Cloth): Combining Designs With Written Proverbs." African Arts 25 (3), p. 39, no. 4.
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