Cloth

Vervaardiging: Kadiato Kamara Sierra Leone · 1982

Light brown dyed cloth with a recessed motif. On a rust brown background an oblong binding motif arranged in straight lines. The lines run across the width of the fabric and are approximately 6 cm apart. First, lines were drawn on the fabric to indicate where the pattern should be. On the lines the fabric was folded in a certain way and tied off. Then the fabric was painted brown, after which the ties could be undone. This fabric was apparently knotted by a beginner, because the lines indicating where the pattern should come are still visible on the fabric. This is not a problem as these will disappear when the fabric is washed. The lines were drawn with a piece of charcoal along a board (their distance is the width of the board). This is a lot of work and only beginners need such help lines to make the pattern regular and straight; by experience one learns to do this "by eye". Also the fact that the size of the bindings is not regular, points to the work of a beginner: it was the intention to alternate the lines with a shorter motif with lines with the same motif, but longer. All bindings should have been the same size per line. Mrs. Kamara had a number of people in the beginning of 1982. Which of them knotted this fabric is not known. The fabric is dyed brown with the natural dye Kola. \This cloth is the correct size of a lapa and can be used as such. It can also be used to make clothing (see M6-48)\ The pattern: Bled (see M6-47).