This ordinary commercially woven cloth is transformed by hand dying with locally 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 wrapper features large white circles of small ties on coarse cloth that was not redipped in the dye. Adire was first produced in quantity in the late 19th century, with production dwindling by World War II. The 1960s saw a revived interest in adire with new patterns and new uses superceding the original use as women's wrappers.
Description:
Wrapper composed of cotton cloth with indigo dyed pattern of large white circles of small ties on coarse cloth, not redipped.
Provenance:
Jane Barbour, acquired Abeokuta, Nigeria, 1969 to 1996
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