Authentic Handwoven Baule Cloth Woman Size 69″×50″ – Ivory Coast

Authentic Handwoven Baule Cloth – Woman’s Size (69″ × 50″)

Discover a rare treasure: a vintage 1970s handwoven Baule cloth from Bondoukou, Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire). This exquisite piece measures:

• Size: 69″ (175 cm) length × 50″ (127 cm) width – Woman’s size

This Baule textile is in good vintage condition, showing charming signs of age and wear:

• Few small holes and one expert repair
• Minor color bleeding and a few stains from decades of use
• Three distinctive IKAT‑patterned stripes woven into the design
• Decorative multi‑colored over‑stitching in selected areas

Handwoven on a traditional horizontal treadle loom, the cloth is composed of narrow strips skillfully sewn together into a larger, cohesive textile. Originally crafted for personal wear in Ivory Coast, today it thrives as a captivating collector’s item ideal for wall hangings, bed or sofa coverings.

What Makes This Baule Cloth Extraordinary

Baule cloths, also known as Baule textiles or Baule traditional cloths, have been hand­woven by skilled artisans in Côte d’Ivoire using age‑old narrow‑loom techniques. Each strip of cloth is woven separately and carefully stitched together to create a full‑size textile, often used as clothing, ceremonial attire, or household textiles.

The IKAT technique evident in the three patterned lines is a resist‑dye method where yarns are tie‑dyed before weaving, creating striking blurred motifs. Over‑stitching in contrasting hues adds decorative and symbolic touches, often denoting social status, cultural heritage, or regional identity.

Traditional Baule cloths are woven from cotton or cotton‑blend fibers. Their natural dyes produce deep, earthy tones, and patterns range from geometric motifs to symbol‑rich designs that tell stories of community, spirituality, and ancestral lineage.

In Baule culture, cloths play a vital role: worn during ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and important social gatherings. Women’s cloths often feature distinctive patterns and sizes tailored for wrap‑style skirts or shawls. Over time, as Western influences grew, these textiles also became prized as artworks, transforming into household decor among collectors worldwide.

With origins in the 18th–19th centuries, Baule weaving traditions merged with earlier Akan and Mandé practices. By the mid‑20th century, artisan weavers continued refining narrow‑loom techniques, producing the vintage cloth you see here an authentic representation of that enduring heritage.

This woman‑size cloth from Bondoukou is more than fabric it’s a tactile expression of Baule artistry and cultural history, perfect for collectors, cultural enthusiasts, or those wishing to showcase African artisan heritage in modern décor.

Own a piece of Baule legacy a stunning example of authentic, handwoven Ivory Coast textile.

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