Factory printed cloth

Object Details

Label Text

Factory print cloth may be manufactured in Europe or Asia for the African market or be made in an African factory and sold anywhere. Generally identified with bright colors and bold designs, it assumes a local name and symbolic meaning. One reason for success of factory printed cloth is the widespread practice of dressing alike for special events ~ weddings, funerals, anniversaries and especially for political events. Another is the quantity of cloth needed to make an outfit. Factory printed cloth is typically sold in 6 yard lots to women for a skirt and top, plus a shawl or head tie. It may be kept uncut as stored wealth.

The 1920s -30s saw the introduction of Fancy cloth, large plain blocks of color with photographic imagery. Popular during colonial times, this technique became particularly important with independence.

Description

Factory printed cloth with a repeating pattern of rectangular scenes of a tree, a beach with palm trees, and a Bullom boat on a purple textured grid background. Rectangles that read "Congratulations Sierra Leone" and "Sierra Leone Independence 1961" are scattered between the scenes. The print is purple dye on a white background. Repeat is 61 cm (24 in.).

Provenance

Lilburn Theurer Senn, Clemson, South Carolina, acquired in Sierra Leone, 1961 to 2002

Exhibition History

"Festival of African American Literature and the Arts, " the Brooks Center, Clemson University, South Carolina, 9/17- 9/21/2001

Content Statement

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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/

Credit Line

Gift of Donald A. Theuer and Lilburne Theuer Senn

1961

Object number

2002-9-22

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Textile and Fiber Arts

Medium

Cotton, dye

Dimensions

H x W: 122 x 90 cm (48 1/16 x 35 7/16 in.)

Geography

Sierra Leone

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

Commemorative

boat

Writing

tree

male

Record ID

nmafa_2002-9-22

Metadata Usage (text)

Not determined

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7dfc82b97-eb06-4440-829b-6323cb6938e4