This is a man's wrapper from Côte d'Ivoire with indigo-dyed and patterned with a fold and stitch resist. It is made from imported cotton cloth. In the early half of the twentieth-century, during colonial rule, European traders made cheap imported white cotton increasingly accessible throughout much of West Africa. This white cotton cloth was distributed on credit to female traders who had it dyed and then sold it off. Everyday cloth like this was once abundant but today few pieces have endured. This piece dates from the mid twentieth-century.
This cloth is in excellent vintage condition. It could be repurposed as an interior textile for example as a wall hanging. Indigo is a fugitive dye so please take care with placing it alongside lighter colored fabrics and during washing.
Approximate dimensions: 68 inches x 45 inches