Bogolanfini "Mud Cloth"  Woman's Wrapper
Mali, Bamana people
First half 20th century (probably made circa 1970)
Cotton (hand-spun), strip weave; painting with mud and plant dyes
40 x 61 inches   (102 x 155 cm) 

These textiles are essentially paintings, made by women, and the abstract geometric patterns express a secretive design language with symbolic and metaphoric meaning known only to women. Sarah Brett-Smith has written an excellent study The Silence of Women: Bamana Mud Cloths (Milan 2014) that analyzes the graphic signs and styles. They are mysterious and beautiful, and this is an excellent example of their quality.