Vintage & Collectable African Textiles

Vintage Adinkra cloth

Adinkra ceremonial cloth in black on blue colourway.

In Ashanti culture, large Adinkra cloths are worn worn toga-style for special occasions, particularly for funerals.

Adinkra artists use calabash stamps and wooden combs to apply traditional Adinkra symbols in geometrically arranged blocks and rows all over panels of factory woven cotton. After painting, the panels are stitched together by hand using colourful threads to make up the the very large finished cloth.

There are over 50 Adinkra symbols, each with its own meaning.

The black pigment they use is derived from boiled tree bark.

Because the traditional stamping process is complex and time-consuming, contemporary makers now use pre-cut stencils to apply their designs. It's a lot quicker, but modern cloths look crude and cheap beside the real thing.

Handstamped using natural dye, from Ashanti region, Ghana. Cotton. 

This cloth is probably about 50 years old.

Note on condition - A few areas of wear and/or minor damage, including:

• Three small holes, possibly made by moths - see image.
• Visible stamp from manufacture of factory woven cotton cloth, a common feature from this era - see image.

OId Adinkra cloths in excellent condition are increasingly rare and very expensive. Here's a great cloth at an affordable price.

Approximate size: 220 x 330 cm / 86 x 130 inches

Approximate size: 220 x 330 cm / 86 x 130 inches

Image shows stamp from manufacture of factory woven cotton cloth - a common feature from this era.

Image shows minor damage - small holes, possibly from moths

Vintage Adinkra cloth: detail