“Dyeing cotton in indigo, 1946. Igbomina Yoruba, Nigeria.”

The British Museum’s online catalogue has recently been revamped with a much more intuitive and user friendly search procedure that allows rapid access to much of their vast collections, including their photography holdings. A recent browse turned up this fine image of a Yoruba woman indigo dyer at work in the small town of Omu Aran east of Ilorin. This was once a major centre of Igbomina Yoruba women’s weaving and the photograph shows skeins of dyed thread hanging up to dry in the background. It was taken in 1946. Museum reference number is Af,B61.8. The photographer is not listed. Image copyright The Trustees of the British Museum.

Click on the image to enlarge. Visit the British Museum collections database here.

Vintage West African Indigo Cloths

Last week I posted a new section on our website with some of my favourite pieces from our large stock of old indigo dyed cloths. Here are a few highlights but please do visit the page and see the whole selection.

AS455: Yoruba strip weave, Nigeria (above)

NW493: Yoruba women's weave, Nigeria

AS452: Yoruba strip weave, Nigeria, indigo & silk

AS454: Gwari, Nigeria

Click on the photos to enlarge. Visit our new Indigo Select gallery here.

Minimal #5–Yoruba women’s weave indigo wrapper cloth.

More from an occasional series of posts that will highlight some rare West African textiles where the elaboration and complexity of design that usually typifies high status textiles is replaced by a more minimal aesthetic….

NW470 - Indigo dyed marriage cloth from the Igbomina subgroup of the Yoruba people, in a style called "eleya" distinguished by a wide band of openwork decoration along the lower edge of the cloth. Formed of two panels of cloth joined at the centre and woven by a woman using an upright single heddle loom. Dates from circa 1930-50 and is in excellent condition. Measurements: 76ins x 57, 193cm x 145.

Click on the photos to enlarge.

More details on our gallery here.