Yoruba Asoke Strip-Woven Cloth

Rows of tiny white ladders climb a red-and-white striped ground.

This asoke strip-woven cloth is Yoruba, from Nigeria, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is cotton. Strip weaving is a widespread West African tradition, and the way strips are arranged and joined often gives each cloth its distinctive rhythm of color and line. Narrow vertical stripes in muted raspberry and white run the full length, with small white rungs forming ladder-like grids between them. The lower edge is ragged and notched, with a few loose threads hanging. It is 60.5 inches wide and 84 long.

Small ladders, going absolutely nowhere in good order.