Ewe Strip-Woven Cloth

Men weave it, on narrow horizontal looms. Then the strips are sewn edge to edge into a cloth to be wrapped around the body on important occasions.

This large Ewe cloth from Ghana is early 20th century and cotton, more than eight feet by seven. A charcoal ground is divided into a grid of small blocks, each finely flecked with white. Tiny inlaid squares of red, gold, sky blue and green sit among them in a staggered rhythm across the whole surface. The colors have softened with age, and slight undulations mark the seams.

Quietly rich. Say nothing, and let the squares do the talking.