Short-sleeved shirt, made of heavy cotton, with large pockets on front; cuffs and bottom opening are unhemmed, shirt is unlined. Shirt decorated with woven white and black stripes; white stripes are solid, black ones consist of alternating solid and checkered bands. Rounded neck opening extends into a slit; entire opening bordered with an embroidered panel. Embroidery is around slit and down centre front of chest; designs consist of sun-like shapes, zigzags, crosses in circles, flowers, lines of alternating circles and triangles, and swirls. Panel is trimmed with silver metallic thread; neck opening and pockets outlined in gold thread.

• Narrative

  Collected by the donor in 2019, with matching hat 3647/2, at the Big Market on Wallace Street, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

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• Type of Item shirt
• Culture Mende
• Material cotton fibre, dye, metal
• Measurements height 83.0 cm, width 111.2 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Clifford J. Pereira
• Received from Clifford J. Pereira

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• Made in Southern Province

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• Collection Date during 2019
• Ownership Date before October 23, 2023
• Acquisition Date on October 23, 2023

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• Item Classes textiles
• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3647/0001