Vintage 1970s Djerma Wedding Blanket - Handwoven Niger Textile

Vintage 1970s Djerma Handwoven Wedding Blanket - Niger

This authentic Djerma handwoven cloth from Niger is a vibrant example of Saharan textile heritage. Woven in the 1970s from medium-plied cotton using the traditional pile technique, it is both functional and decorative, ideal as a wedding blanket or Tuareg tent hanging.

• Size: 100" x 45 1/2" (254 cm x 115 cm)
• Materials: Hand-spun, medium-plied cotton
• Technique: Traditional pile weave, with narrow strips loosely stitched together to form a larger cloth
• Condition: Very good vintage condition with a few stains, minor color bleeding, and light wear consistent with age and use

Cultural Significance

The Djerma (Zarma) people of Niger create textiles that serve important ceremonial and practical purposes. This type of cloth is traditionally gifted as a wedding blanket, symbolizing protection, warmth, and family bonds. It is also hung inside Tuareg tents or homes to add color, insulation, and cultural identity.

The traditional pile technique gives the cloth a soft, textured surface and added warmth for desert nights, while the loosely joined strips allow for flexibility, repairability, and ease of transport, perfect for nomadic lifestyles.

Heritage & Collectability

Genuine vintage Djerma blankets are increasingly rare and sought after by collectors, textile enthusiasts, and interior designers. Their striking patterns, tactile weave, and deep cultural connections make them ideal as statement décor or preserved as significant African textile art.

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