African Tribal Art - Cache-sex, Dida, Ivory Coast

This tubular textile was made by the Dida people of the Ivory Coast. It was woven of raffia fibers, then resist-dyed three times for the gold, red and black colors. Natural plant and mineral dyes were used in a very complex stitch-resist process. These were ceremonial cloths highly prized by the Dida and are quite rare. This one is too small to fit over the head as a hat, and so may have been worn folded over a belt as a woman's cache-sex. It measures 22" in length by 6.5" wide at the top. Early 20th century. #5914  SOLD