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Blanket

National Museum of African Art

Object Details

Oumar Bocoum, born Mali
Label Text
The blankets with figures evolved from the bright cotton rectangular motif blankets woven for modern beds in the mid-20th century. The uniformed soldiers relate to the 1968 military coup. The scantily clad ladies are not documented but perhaps relate to the blankets used as wedding gifts.
Description
18-strip cotton blanket with figures of 3 soldiers in green uniforms, 2 women in bikinis, shoes and purses, and 1 man in black garb. Rectangular bars of color probably refer to the flag.
Provenance
Ambassador Arthur Lewis, Washington D.C., -- to 2011
Exhibition History
Conversations: African and African American Artworks in Dialogue - From the Collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and Camille O. and William H. Cosby, Jr., National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, November 7, 2014-January 24, 2016 (installed June 30, 2015)
Published References
Kreamer, Christine Mullen and Adrienne L. Childs (eds). 2014. Conversations: African and African American Artworks in Dialogue from the Collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and Camille O. and William H. Cosby, Jr. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, pp. 184-185, pl. 92.
Content Statement
As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
Image Requests
High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
Credit Line
Gift of the Ambassador Arthur and Doctor Frances Lewis Collection
Late 20th century
Object number
2011-17-8
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Textile and Fiber Arts
Medium
Cotton, dye
Dimensions
H x W: 158 x 348 cm (62 3/16 x 137 in.)
Strip (18): 9 cm (3 9/16 in.)
Geography
Mali
See more items in
National Museum of African Art Collection
Object Name
couverture personnages
National Museum of African Art
Topic
Household
Status
Adornment
male
female
Record ID
nmafa_2011-17-8
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys728aa2cab-b356-4a3f-9e21-111bbe1818fb
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

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