These four strips of men's narrow-band weaving and the small skein of handspun cotton are part of a collection of 33 West African textiles, spindles, hand spun yarn and a thorn carving collected in West Africa by Dr C Marion Petrie. Dr Petrie was an employee of the British Colonial Service in Nigeria and Ghana between 1957 and 1966. While forms of narrow-band weaving are known throughout the world, West African mens' weaves are characterised by their extreme narrowness. Narrow woven strips are very versatile as they could be usually sewn together to create a cloth or blanket, or small items such as head wraps.

The strips were produced on a men's double-heddle portable loom (or horizontal frame treadle loom). They are made from natural handspun cotton, which is the traditional material used in Nigerian weaving. Today, however, natural handspun cotton is increasingly being replaced by imported machine spun yarns although handspun yarns are of a higher quality and create a better quality weave.

Spinning was carried out by women who held the raw cotton in their left hands and with their right hands twisted the fibres into yarn. Cotton yarn was spun from the fibres of the cotton plant, which surround the seeds of the plant. The seeds were removed first during the process known as 'ginning', which involved rolling an iron or wooden rod over the seeds. After the fibres of the cotton were untangled, the cotton was wrapped loosely around a distaff, which was then attached to a spindle by several cotton threads (a spindle consists of a short rod and a whorl). The cotton was then spun by spinning the spindle in mid air.

Four strips of narrow-band weaving in natural handspun cotton, with a small quantity of unwoven yarn from Zaria, Northern Nigeria. The yarn is probably the same as that used in the production of the four short strips of narrow band weaving. The narrow woven strips were produced on a men's double-heddle portable loom (or horizontal frame treadle loom). They are made from natural handspun cotton, which is the traditional material used in weaving. Today, however, natural handspun cotton is increasingly being replaced by imported machine spun yarns although handspun yarns are of a higher quality and create a better quality weave.

Spinning was carried out by women who held the raw cotton in their left hands and with their right hands twisted the fibres into yarn. Cotton yarn was spun from the fibres of the cotton plant, which surround the seeds of the plant. The seeds were removed first during the process known as 'ginning', which involved rolling an iron or wooden rod over the seeds. After the fibres of the cotton were untangled, the cotton was wrapped loosely around a distaff, which was then attached to a spindle by several cotton threads (a spindle consists of a short rod and a whorl). The cotton was then spun by spinning the spindle in mid air.

These four strips of narrow-band weaving and the skein of cotton yarn, were purchased in Zaria in the 1960's. While forms of narrow- band weaving are known throughout the world, West African narrow-band weaving like these are distinguished by the narrowness of the woven cloth. Narrow strips like these are very versatile as they were usually sewn together in order to create a cloth or blanket, or small items such as head wraps. The use of cotton yarns in West African textiles is widespread. This unwoven cotton would have been spun in order to produce either men's or women's weaving on both the horizontal and vertical looms. Items produced with cotton include cloths and blankets. While cotton has traditionally been handspun, as demonstrated through this small quantity of cotton, machine spun imported yarn is now more commonly used.

These four strips of narrow-band weaving, and small quantity of unwoven yarn, are part of a collection of 33 objects, consisting of West African textiles, spindles, hand spun yarn and a thorn carving, which were collected in West Africa between 1957 and 1966 by Dr C Marion Petrie. Dr Petrie was employed by the British Colonial Service in government and university posts in various towns in Nigeria and Ghana. She collected textiles and other items for her own enjoyment in markets and from traders and subsequently donated them to the National Textile Museum in Adelaide. When the National Textile Museum closed in 1999, this collection was transferred to the Powerhouse Museum.

Strips of narrow-band weaving (4), and skein of handspun cotton yarn, cotton, maker unknown, Zaria, Northern Nigeria, 1950 -1966

Four strips of narrow-band weaving made in handspun cream cotton and a small skein of handspun yarn. The hand spun cotton is undyed, and is a cream colour. The yarn is probably the same cotton as that used in the production of the four short strips of narrow band weaving.

Made: Zaria, Nigeria; 1950 - 1966

No marks.

2008/59/27

1950 - 1966