Adinkra Stamp

MOA: University of British Columbia

3561/5 a-b

Adinkra stamp of the 'Adinkrahene' (Chief Adinkra) design, carved info a piece of calabash gourd. Part b is the handle, made of four sticks held togther by thread wrapped around the centre of the sticks. The gourd stamp (part a) has a deeply carved design of concentric circles. The back surface has four small holes where the pointed ends of the sticks are inserted, crossing midway up, at the thread, to form the handle.

  • Narrative

    Collected by the donor in Ghana, in 1971.

  • Cultural Context

    textiles

  • History Of Use

    Adinkra stamps are used for printing designs on cloth (e.g., K2.455). The stamps are dipped in adinkra aduru, an ink prepared by boiling chunks of iron slag and bark from the Bridelia ferruginea tree, locally called Badie, into a thick paste that is liquefied before use. The cloth is stamped at local workshops.


  • Type of Item stamp
  • Culture Asante
  • Material gourd fruit, wood, cotton fibre
  • Measurements height 11.0 cm, diameter 6.7 cm (overall) height 1.7 cm, diameter 6.7 cm (part a) height 9.5 cm, width 0.2 cm, depth 0.1 cm (part b)

  • Previous Owner Susan Stout
  • Received from Susan Stout

  • Made in Ghana

  • Creation Date during 1971
  • Collection Date during 1971
  • Ownership Date before April 28, 2022
  • Acquisition Date on April 28, 2022

  • Condition good
  • Accession Number 3561/0005 a-b