Object Details
- Madame Samuroh, died 1970, born Nigeria
- Yoruba artist
- Label Text
- 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 hand painted resist pattern is called Ibadan Dun or "Ibadan is sweet."
- This pattern is named after the city where it was produced, and is an expression of civic pride. The pattern typically has 4 rows of 7 squares, and including such motifs as combs spoons and the pillars of Mapo Hall, a government building on a prominent hill. This cloth was created by Madame Samuroh and her signature sign appears in the cloth's border.
- 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
- Machine woven cotton cloth wrapper with hand painted designs in 8 rows of 7 squares, indigo dyed.
- Provenance
- Jane Barbour, purchased in Ibadan, 1969 to 1996
- Exhibition History
- Adire: Resist-Dyed Cloths of the Yoruba, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., April 16-August 17, 1997
- Published References
- National Museum of African Art. 1997. Adire: Resist-Dyed Cloths of the Yoruba. Exhibition brochure. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, no. 18.
- 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 Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks.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/
- Credit Line
- Museum purchase
- Mid-20th century
- Object number
- 96-1-18
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Textile and Fiber Arts
- Medium
- Cotton, indigo dye
- Dimensions
- H x W: 201.6 x 175.3 cm (79 3/8 x 69 in.)
- Geography
- Nigeria
- See more items in
- National Museum of African Art Collection
- Object Name
- adire
- National Museum of African Art
- Topic
- Adornment
- male
- Record ID
- nmafa_96-1-18
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7bd1a3a3a-d360-4c57-8c30-823f0769d61c
