Panel (Lamba Mpanjaka)
1997
Daniel Rafidison (Malagasy, born 1963) and Antoine Rakotoarinala (Malagasy, born 1962) Produced at Lamba SARL cooperative Arivonimamo, Madagascar
Madagascar
In this display piece, the jewel-like colors and designs in the weaving are a contemporary revival of akotofohana, a 19th-century cloth worn by monarchs in Madagascar as their most luxurious mode of dress. Malagasy people consider cloth to be the ultimate gift: a valuable symbol of relationships forged between rulers, individuals, ancestors, and spirits. Rulers presented the fine mulberry silk textiles to foreign dignitaries as they established and built diplomatic ties around the world. For example, Queen Ranavalona III of Madagascar sent two akotofohana cloths to US President Grover Cleveland in 1886.
Silk, warp-faced plain weave with supplementary patterning warps and supplementary brocading wefts; five panels joined; finished at both ends with knotted and braided warp fringe