Handwoven Baule Cloth Woman Size – Vintage Ivory Coast Textile

Vintage Handwoven Baule Cloth – Woman Size – Ivory Coast (Bondoukou)

• Size: 56″ (142 cm) × 43″ (109 cm)

This authentic Handwoven Baule cloths from Bondoukou, Ivory Coast, West Africa, is in very good vintage condition minor stains and wear add character from real use. Woven on a traditional horizontal treadle loom, narrow strips have been carefully sewn together to form a striking piece. Perfect as a wearable textile or as a collector’s treasure for wall hanging, sofa drape, or bed covering.

About This Cloth

This Ivory Coast Baule cloths was meticulously crafted by skilled artisans of the Baule people. Each symbol woven into the cloth carries meaning protection, prosperity, community and the supple cotton material shows both durability and soft elegance.

Handweaving & Symbolism

Woven yield by yield on a horizontal treadle loom, each narrow strip of cotton is joined to create the full-size cloth. The clever interplay of motifs reflects Baule traditions: geometric patterns represent harmony, animal figures speak of strength, and linear stripes echo ancestral paths.

Traditional Use & Cultural Heritage

Baule cloths traditionally served as ceremonial robes, bridal wear, or markers of social identity. Women in Bondoukou would wear these during festivals, rites, or daily communal life. Today, cloths like this carry forward the cultural legacy of handweaving in Côte d’Ivoire.

History of the Baule Textile

The Baule people, part of the Akan ethnolinguistic group, have woven on narrow looms since pre-colonial times. Baule textiles trace back centuries across Ivory Coast, where cotton farming and weaving traditions were central to village life. These cloths symbolized marital status, wealth, and spiritual ties and laid the foundation for modern African textile art.

Available now through TribalGH a genuine piece of Baule art history that will enrich any collection or home décor with its craftsmanship, story, and symbolism.

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