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Chief's shirt
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Man's robe (boubou)
Chief's shirt
West African (Mandingo)
second half 19th century
Object Place: Liberia or Sierra Leone, Africa
Medium/Technique
Cotton plain weave (strip woven), embroidered with wool
Dimensions
Overall: 94 x 152.4 cm (37 x 60 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase with funds donated by Jeremy and Hanne Grantham
Accession Number2004.551
CollectionsAfrica and Oceania, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionHand spun and woven cotton ground made from eleven strips, each about 4 3/4" wide, sewn together along their edges in abutting seams. Slight variation in the lightness of the warp threads created subtle stipes. Two pieces of hand spun and woven white cotton, each about 3/4" wide, sewn to sides and together to close the robe at the sies and create arm openings at top. Hem across bottom is about 3" deep. Additional square piece of cloth sewn below neck opening forms a pocket. Embroidered with off-white and blue cotton and red wool embroidery
ProvenancePrivate collection, New York; Purchased from the Gail Martin Gallery, New York, by the MFA, September 22, 2004