Textiles from Mali |
Featured Textiles: merging culture, agriculture and
art;
Copoti woman’s robe
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160 x 172 cm Brocade, finely decorated with plangi knots and splices
Dyer: Assa Sylla, 1990 Originates from Bamako 90-26-79a
Copoti woman’s robe
A modern article using synthetic colors. Brocade is an industrial
fabric that today plays a crucial role in the clothing industry.
The word for brocade as used in the African languages describes
a richly decorated imported damask, industrially woven on
modern Jacquard-type looms. Known as bazin in France, francophone
West Africa would use the term bazin riche; the term bazin
is not in use outside francophone Africa. Bazin (or basin),
comes from bombasin, which itself comes from the Italian bambagia
(cotton) and the Latin bombyx (silk). Italian merchants bought
it in Damascus; the word damask is a reminder that this fabric
originates from the Middle East. Many dyers in Bamako dye
brocade using all manner of colors. and motifs. A large part
of this artisanal production is destined for export to neighboring
countries.
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