Man's Kente Wrapper
Early 20th century
Asante Ghana
Ghana
Kente is composed of narrow strips of patterned cloth sewn together edge-to-edge to form a single, large garment. Its distinctive checkerboard pattern is produced by aligning the selected cloth strips in a particular order; with each geometric motif communicating ideas, events, or proverbs important to the wearer. Kente cloth is wrapped around the body and draped over one shoulder, and often worn by a person of great importance, including Asante royalty.
Rayon and cotton, twenty-three narrow woven strips with bands of warp-stripe plain weave, warp-stripe plain weave with supplementary brocading wefts; and weft-faced plain weave; joined; main warp fringe