Monday 31 December 2012

Wednesday 19 December 2012

A December afternoon in the shop….

Pc196025

Moved some things around, hung up the robe ( an early example I am really excited about), took a few snap shots…

Pc196026

Pc196027

Pc196028

Friday 14 December 2012

Cloth of the month: a unique embroidered Yoruba wrapper.

AS435

AS435 - Unique women's wrapper skirt cloth hand sewn from early C20th aso oke woven with local hand spun indigo dyed cotton with weft stripes of magenta silk “alaari” imported via the trans-Saharan caravan trade. Exceptionally the cloth is decorated with endless knot motifs and lines hand embroidered in colourful imported thread. Embroidery on wrappers is not usual among the Yoruba (although there was a brief vogue for machine embroidered wrappers in the 1970s) but was a custom among the Hausa, so it is possible that the embroidery on this piece is by a for a Hausa woman patron, or was influenced by knowledge of Hausa examples. Excellent condition. Dates from circa 1920s - 30s. Measurements: 77 ins x 55ins, 197 cm x 140.

AS435d

512

512a

Click on the photos to enlarge. More information on our website here.

Wednesday 12 December 2012

African hats in Paris auction next week

95

A fine collection of African hats will be auctioned at Drouot in Paris next Tuesday (18 December) by auctioneers Neret-Minet, Tessier & Sarrou. The catalogue is on-line. Quite modest estimates for some unusual pieces.

Photo above shows Lot 95: West African hat of unknown origin.

61

Lot 61: Madagascar

64

Lot 64: Lesotho

65

Lot 65: South Africa – Ntwana

68

Lot 68: South Africa – Ntwana

67

Lot 67: South Africa – Zulu

75

Lot 75: Cameroon

79

Lot 79: Kenya – Pokot/Karamajong

84

Lot 84: Cameroun

85

Lot 85: Nigeria – Yoruba. Is this really a “priest’s hat” I wonder ?

88

Lot 88: Congo – Kuba

90

Lot 90: Congo – Mangbetu

92

Lot 92: Congo – Mbala