Baule Woman's Wrap / Skirt

A checkerboard of teal and indigo, stitched together from narrow woven strips.

This woman's wrap skirt is Baule, and dates to the 20th century. It is ivory coast, west africa. Strip weaving produces narrow bands of cloth on a loom, and the strips are sewn edge to edge to form wide pieces with striped or patterned designs. Rectangular cloth built of narrow strips joined side by side, forming rows of blue and turquoise blocks. Tiny pale motifs and small colored flecks show within the squares. The surface looks soft and slightly rippled. It is 42 inches wide and 62 long.

Cool colors and a very orderly mind.