Hunter's Shirt (1950), Wrapper (1960), & Armlet (1910)
Cultural heritage of mali
design Details
Hunter's Shirt, Wrapper, & Armlet
Bamana people
1910-1960
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Bogolanfini hunter's shirt
Class: Textile - Woven
Dimensions: W. 31 1/2 in. x H. 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm x 80 cm)
Medium: Mud-Dyed Cotton
Descriptions: Through geometric motifs that form a rigorous graphic system of communication, bògòlanfini embody medicinal knowledge, historical facts, and moral precepts. Imbued with such information, the shirts are considered so potent that they must never be worn by another person after the original owner’s death. Bamana mud-cloth garments are considered documents, because they carry accumulated knowledge belonging to society.
(Source: Toledo Museum of Art Website)
Bogolanfini wrapper
Class: Textile - Woven
Dimensions: W. 39 3/8 in. x H. 68 1/8 in. (100 cm x 173 cm)
Medium: Mud-Dyed Cotton
Descriptions: Bogolanfini, mudcloth; woman's wrapper; woven in eight strips hand sewn together. Hand spun cotton warp and weft, dyed yellow. Discharge-dyed with river mud to create abstract patterns throughout. Deep borders at short sides, narrow borders at long sides. Central design divided into squares with herringbone patterns. Loose warp thread fringes at both ends.
(Source: The British Museum Website)
armlet
Class: Jewelry - Armlet
Dimensions: W. 4 3/16 in. x H. 1 in. x D. 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm x 2.5 cm x 10.7 cm)
Medium: Stone
Descriptions: This armlet is made of marbled black and white stone. It is a thick, circular bangle traditionally worn on the upper arm, likely made from organic materials such as leather or horn. In many West African cultures, armlets like this signified strength, maturity, social status, and protection, and were often worn during important life stages, ceremonies, or rituals. As part of the broader African bangle tradition, such forms emphasize continuity, community identity, and the body as a site of cultural expression, where adornment communicates heritage, power, and belonging across generations.
(Source: The British Museum Website)