African Tribal Art - Man's mantle, Dida, Ivory Coast

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African Tribal Art - Man's mantle, Dida, Ivory Coast

This wonderful textile is a man's mantle or scarf made by the Dida people of the Ivory Coast. It is woven of raffia fibers, then resist-dyed three times for the gold, red and black colors. Natural plant and mineral dyes were used in a very complex stitch-resist process. These were ceremonial cloths highly prized by the Dida and are quite rare. See photo below for close-up - the diagonal weave is quite visible. This one has been professionally mounted on a wood frame with a linen background and including the frame measures 16" wide by 18.5" high. (It is perfectly rectangular but slightly distorted by my camera.)  First half of the 20th century.  #1771  SOLD
 
African Tribal Art - Man's mantle, Dida, Ivory Coast, detail

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