Piece of Chinese imitation wax printed textile, an offcut of the material used to make skirt 2019.23.3 .1. [JMC 20/9/2019]

Collection type: Object
Description: Piece of Chinese imitation wax printed textile, an offcut of the material used to make skirt 2019.23.3 .1. [JMC 20/9/2019]
Long description: Piece of Chinese imitation wax printed textile, an offcut of the material used to make skirt 2019.23.3 .1. The textile is woven cotton and has a printed fish design on a grey background, with a large red and gold design of many fish, including a swordfish, in a basketry trap. The offcut is roughly rectangular, with one very irregular edge. There is printed gold lettering on one side which reads 'IMITATION WAX Printed Shirting 100% Cotton mercerized GUARANTEED FAST COLOUR 45/46IN.x12YDS [chinese characters] MADE IN CHINA'. [JMC 20/9/2019]
Geographical reference: China
Asia > Eastern Asia > China; Gambia
Africa > Western Africa > Gambia
Person: Field collector Sarah Lasenby; PRM source Sarah Lasenby; PRM source Steve Lasenby
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1986
Date collected: 1986
Acquisition information: Donated: 22/07/2019
Materials and processes: Material Cotton Seed Fibre Textile Plant, Material Pigment, Process Woven, Process Printed
Dimensions: Width: max 610 mm, Length: max 125 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 2019.23.3.2
Research and responses: Printed textiles of this kind were manufactured in China, in imitation of wax resist-dyed textiles which were made globally for export to the West African market. This particular textile was exported to Banjul, The Gambia, where the donor bought it in 1986. She later made the material into a skirt, with both the skirt [2019.23.3 .1] and the offcut material [2019.23.3 .2] being accessioned into the Museum's collections. [JMC 20/9/2019]

Search terms: Textile, Trade

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