Vintage Mossi Indigo Cloth – Heavy Handwoven Burkina Faso

Vintage Heavy Handwoven Mossi Indigo Cloth from Burkina Faso

This authentic Mossi indigo cloth from Burkina Faso is a striking example of traditional West African textile craftsmanship. Made from hand-spun cotton and dyed with natural indigo, it features a heavy, tightly woven structure that speaks to the weaver’s exceptional skill.

• Size: 71" x 39" (180 cm x 99 cm) without tassel fringes
• Materials: Hand-spun cotton, natural indigo dyes
• Weave: Strip-woven construction, with narrow strips sewn together to form a larger textile
• Condition: Good vintage condition with a couple of damages, a few stains, and some wear consistent with age and use

This cloth’s deep blue hue is achieved through a labor-intensive natural indigo dyeing process, requiring repeated immersion to create a rich, lasting color. Its dense weave and substantial weight make it both durable and visually striking, ideal for functional use or display.

Cultural Heritage

The Mossi people of Burkina Faso have a long and celebrated tradition of weaving indigo cloths. Women traditionally spun the cotton fibers by hand, while men wove the strips on narrow looms. Once completed, the strips were sewn together to create wrappers, ceremonial garments, or multi-purpose textiles.

Indigo cloths like this were often worn during important ceremonies, given as wedding gifts, and valued as symbols of wealth and status. The deep blue color also carried spiritual significance, believed to offer protection to the wearer. Patterns and textures within the weave reflected the artisan’s creativity and local cultural aesthetics.

Today, vintage Mossi indigo cloths are highly prized by collectors, designers, and lovers of authentic African art. This heavy, tightly woven example is perfect as a wall hanging, throw, or statement textile, carrying with it the heritage and artistry of the Mossi people.

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