Asante
Ghana
Adinkra Wrapper
INV-1931
Asante
GhanaEarly 20th century (after 1904)
Adinkra Wrapper
Asante Ghana →asanteArts of AfricaCoastal West Africaafricancostumearts of Africa
Date
Early 20th century (after 1904)
Medium
6 panels joined of factory-produced cotton, plain weave self-patterned by warp and weft floats;
embroidered with silk floss and viscose rayon threads in chain stitches
Dimensions
335.3 × 289.6 cm (132 × 114 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
African and Amerindian Art Purchase Fund; African and Amerindian Curator's Discretionary Fund
Although printed textiles proliferate in contemporary Ghanaian fashion, adinkra were the first and only preindustrial printed textile made in West Africa. This Adinkra Wrapper features a variety of motifs that highlight the wearer’s power and status, including symbols that represent royal hairstyles and dwellings. The garment’s white ground indicates that it was made to be worn for celebratory occasions.
Examples of the types of stamps used to print adinkra are also in our collection.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
