Journey Around the World: Threaded Together- Africa, Oceania

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Africa

The hat is made of straw covered in leather design. The brim is covered by reddish/brown and black leather stitched in white leather, while the tip of the hat has a leather design to form a star.

West African Hat

Lama-Kara, Togo, Africa

This hat made of plant fibers with its decorative leather motifs is called a fulani or tengaade hat. Fulani hats get their name from the Fulani people, a primarily pastoralist group commonly found in parts of West Africa. When worn, this hat would typically be placed on top of a turban that has already been wrapped around the wearer's head. The knob at the top of the hat surrounded by leather is a culturally distinctive feature found on fulani hats as well as the chin strap with tassel.

Purchased from Dr. Art Rohn

1989.01.035 Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology

Robe made of green and tan stripe material. Brown embroidery around the neck and on the chest, depicting square patterns.

Man's West African Robe

Ketao, Togo, Africa

Mossi men in West Africa are known for wearing long robes that reach to the ankles, sewn together with strips of warp-stripe cloth, with a keyhole opening for the head and neck, much like the robe displayed. This style of robe is most often worn with loose fitting trousers underneath. Many of the front designs, while once sewn on or embroidered by hand, many are more commonly machine stitched today. This robe has a particularly interesting feature; two pockets, decoratively disguised, can be found on the front of the robe among the embroidered knot-like patterns.

Donation from Dr. Arthur Rohn

1989.01.026 Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology

Oceania

The costume is made up of a top made up of thick fabric with black, white, and red geometric square design. The skirt is tan and brown with reeds held together at the top with braiding.

Maori Woman's Bodice and Skirt

New Zealand, Polynesia, Oceania

Maori traditional dress has undergone various changes throughout its history. The dress displayed, is one of the most modern representations of Maori traditional dress. A bodice, called a pari, and a flax skirt, called a piupiu, are the the two primary pieces that create the Maori woman's dress. There is typically a red or black colored underskirt worn underneath the piupiu. Note the taniko weaving technique on the bodice to create geometric diamond-like patterns. These patterns when woven in red-white-black are some of the most distinctive found within Maori traditional dress. Most often, pari and piupiu are worn for significant ceremonies, dances, or cultural demonstrations.

Donation from Kristin Clancy

2010.02.001a,b Kristin Clancy Collection

Square bark cloth made of flattened wood with black, red, and maroon-colored designs on a tan background.

Barkcloth

Tonga, Polynesia, Oceania

Barkcloth, also broadly known as tapa cloth, is made in the islands of the Pacific Ocean; primarily Tonga. Tapa cloth is known more specifically as ngatu in Tonga. Here it is of great social importance to the islanders, oftentimes being given as gifts during important ceremonies and events. Barkcloth can be decorated by rubbing, stamping, stenciling, smoking, or dyeing designs. Black and rust-colored dyes are most commonly used for these processes.

The patterns found in barkcloth usually form a grid of squares, each of which contains geometric patterns with repeated motifs relating to nature. Barkcloth is extremely versatile in nature. It can be seen worn at weddings, used as a blanket, and even hung on the wall to appreciate its decorative qualities.

Donation from Drs. Lowell D. & Ellen Holmes

2019.03.007 Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology

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