Baule Woman's Wrap / Skirt

Dark cloth, red and indigo stripes, and a long rhythm of small blocks.

Baule weavers of the Ivory Coast, West Africa, made this woman’s wrap or skirt in cotton in the 20th century. Wrappers like this are commonly worn tied at the waist and woven in narrow strips that are stitched side by side. The ground is nearly black, with fine vertical lines in blue and tan, and clusters of red blocks set at regular intervals like windows in a night building. A tiny stitched edge runs across the bottom.

About 61 by 48 inches. Hang it, drape it, or sit on it. It forgives all three.