April 23, 2024
Authentic traditional African mud cloth fabric-bogolan
Pricing & History
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Mudcloth is a fabric traditional in Africa. The cloth is first handspun, then handwoven, usually of cotton and by the men of the village. The loom is hand-held and produces small strips which are then combined to form larger pieces of cloth. The women usually do the designing. First the item is soaked in a tea from the Bogolon tree native to Mali, Africa. This stain acts like a fixative for the colors to come. Then organic substances are mixed with soils (hence the "mud") and allowed to age, often for up to a year, until they reach the correct formulation. This process also takes years for the creators to learn, as not only hues, but also their reactions with cloth and fixatives must be known. Finally, they are individually applied according to the artist's desire. Various layers and combinations are used. Next, the work is soaked in a solution which brings out the patterns. If the color white is required, these areas need extra attention to rebleach with a soda. The entire process takes weeks to months for each item, not counting all the prior preparation by the artists and weavers. All patterns and colors on mudcloth have meaning. Often they are not the same across various areas. They may stand for status, people group, or even character. Black with white markings is used for storytelling or proverbs. The rust color represents
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