Object Details
- Label Text
- Ordinary commercially woven cloth is transformed by hand dying with locally made indigo dye. To create the elaborate patterns of adire the artist blocks the dye from reaching the surface of the cloth. This is done by painting or stenciling with a starch such as cassava paste, or by tying or sewing knots and seams. This hand painted pattern is called olokun, which literally means "Goddess of the Sea." However, in this particular context it means "life is sweet."
- Adire was first produced in quantity in the late nineteenth century, with production dwindling by World War II. The 1960s saw a revived interest in adire with new patterns, and new uses superseding the original use as women's wrappers.
- Description
- Cotton cloth with hand drawn starch resist indigo dyed pattern of blocks--five rows of five large squares with borders of smaller squares. Motifs include tops (circles), birds, eight petal "floral," linear and triangle patterns.
- Provenance
- Jane Barbour, acquired Nigeria, 1969 to 1990
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Maker
- Yoruba artist
- Date
- Mid-late 20th century
- Credit Line
- Museum purchase
- Medium
- Cotton, indigo dye
- Dimensions
- H x W: 181.2 x 165 cm (71 5/16 x 64 15/16 in.)
- Type
- Textile and Fiber Arts
