We do not recommend laundering textiles, and do not accept returns of textiles which have been laundered in any manner.  Even dry cleaning is too much for some of these antique textiles.  For some of them, a very gentle HAND washing  (NEVER MACHINE, on any setting)  in cool water with a very gentle detergent works, but even then, dyes may not be colorfast, and fabric may be less strong than it appears. Additional Information:  A large royal Kente cloth wore by Asante men.  Strips are hand sewn together. Estimated age more than 40 years. Kente cloth is the royal cloth of the Ashante, of Ghana. In many cases, the thread was obtained by carefully un-picking silk garments, and reweaving them. The looms have two or three heddles. Legend says that the Kente cloth weavers learned their skill from watching a spider, Anansi, who is a significant figure in African folklore. Recommended Reading: Doran H. Ross (ed.), Wrapped in Pride. Ghanaian Kente and African American Identity., UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History. Los Angeles, 1998 Duncan Clarke, The Art of African Textiles, Thunder Bay Press, 1997 Peter Adler and Nicholas Barbard, African Majesty.  The Textile Art of The Ashanti and Ewe, Thames and Hudson. London, 1992

• Type of Object: Handwoven cloth
• Materials: Hand woven cloth, possibly silk or combination
• Country of Origin: Ghana
• Dimensions: Height: 70 InchesWidth: 42 Inches
• People: Asante

Type of Object: Handwoven clothAfrica Direct