CONSTRUCTION: Front - Vintage black African Bogolan mud cloth. Back - Natural Ivory mudcloth. Closure - regular  zipper. Actual size approximately 18x18.
 
Bogolan cloth once despised as rural non-Islamic, peasants cloth has transformed into a symbol of national identity for Mali. The creation of what we now know as Mali mudcloth is a long and laborius procedure. The cloth is woven by men into narrow strip loom in its natural state as is the backing of this pillow.
 
The dying process is done by soaking the washed cloth in a brwon solution made from pounded Bougalan tree leaves. The cloth is thenready for the application of mud dye designs. The mud that is used is collected from the deepest sections of the ponds. The mud is left to ferment in a covered pot for about a year. During this time it turns black in color. The potted mud is diluted with water when needed. The designs are drawn on the cloth section by using various width spatulas made of small pieces of Bamboo and flat metal. The main larger sections are marked off while lying flat on the ground. The smaller more detailed work is done on a woman’s lap with the section placed over a calabash. The entire process of washing, dipping in the leaf solution and painting with the mud dye is repeated after which a solution that includes caustic soda is applied to the yellow areas. These areas are exposed to intense sunlight for a week until the desired whiteness is reached. The amazing aspect of Bogolanfini or mudcloth is that the background is actually applied and not the lightened areas.