Vintage Woman‑Size Handwoven Baule Cloth – Ivory Coast 58″×40½″

Vintage Handwoven Baule Woman‑Size Cloth – Ivory Coast – 58″×40½″

Elevate your collection with this exquisite Handwoven Baule cloths, carefully crafted in Bondoukou, Côte d’Ivoire. This unique Ivory Coast Baule cloths piece, originally intended for women, measures:

• Size: 58″ × 40½″ (147 × 103 cm)

The cloth is in very good vintage condition, with a few small holes, minor stains, and gentle wear consistent with age and authentic use. These signs of character only add to its rich history and provenance.

This traditional cloth is woven on a horizontal treadle loom, with narrow strips sewn together into a larger panel. In modern Côte d’Ivoire, Baule textiles continue to be worn, but today they are equally cherished by collectors as striking wall hangings, sofa throws, or bed coverings.

About This Baule Cloth

Baule cloths are handwoven by skilled artisans using a narrow‑loom technique native to the Baule people of Côte d’Ivoire. Each strip is meticulously woven and then joined to create the full cloth. The designs often feature symbolic motifs geometric patterns, stylized animals, or ancestral symbols each holding cultural significance such as prosperity, protection, or community unity.

Traditionally made from hand‑spun cotton, sometimes accented with natural dyes, these textiles were used in daily life for ceremonial dress, bridal attire, and important social rituals. Today, Baule cloths are treasured both locally and internationally for their craftsmanship and cultural depth.

The weaving process begins with preparing cotton threads, dyeing them with plant‑based dyes, and weaving on a horizontal treadle loom. The artisan weaver carefully wefts and warps the narrow strips, then stitches sections together. Skilled weavers may weave patterns directly into the fabric, embedding iconography that reflects Baule cosmology and heritage.

Over centuries, Baule cloths have conveyed cultural identity and social status. Women often wore them at weddings, funerals, and community gatherings. The symbolism woven into each cloth reveals layers of meaning from protection charms to ancestral honor. As labor‑intensive works, handwoven Baule cloths testify to resilience and artistic innovation.

This vintage piece not only preserves centuries of Baule weaving tradition, but is also a living artifact of Ivory Coast heritage. A genuine work of Ivory Coast African artisan textile functional, historical, and deeply cultural.

Condition & Use

• Good vintage condition with minor wear: small holes, light stains, natural aging
• Versatile use: wearable cloth, wall display, sofa or bed covering
• Authentic African artistry perfect for collectors and design enthusiasts

Welcome this genuine Baule cloth into your space an enduring textile legacy from Bondoukou, crafted with care and spirit by West African artisans.

Explore more treasures from our heritage collection:
TribalGH cloths & textiles collection
TribalGH Ashanti Kente cloths collection