Wrap robe Asante, Ghana Ohne Sockel / without... Lot 27

Wrap robe Asante, Ghana Ohne Sockel / without base Cotton and rayon. W 200 cm. L 342 cm. Provenance: Swiss private collection, Solothurn. The so-called Kente are wraparounds made in Ghana and Togo. The term kente for these fabrics probably comes from Fante traders. Asante weavers call them Nsaduaso (for very good quality) comparable to the - controversial - Ewe term Adanudo or Adanuvor. The personally owned cloths are worn on ceremonial or civil occasions, and are thus a visible sign of prestige, rank and belonging. Men use one large scarf, women two smaller ones. The colorful shawls consist of up to 20 separately woven and sewn together strips. They were woven exclusively by men, but also worn by women. Certain colors, number of bands and motifs are reserved for certain ranks and ceremonies. The seemingly uniform geometric motifs woven into the narrow bands have names that can be read by connoisseurs, similar to pictograms. Because of their value, which is calculated from the cost of materials, labor, and subjective beauty, the textiles are also used as mediums of exchange, gifts, and investments. Further reading: Ross, Doran (1998). Wrapped in Pride. Los Angeles: Fowler Museum of Cultural History. CHF 600 / 800 EUR 546 / 728