{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O103421"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O103421/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HJ2287/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HJ2287/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HJ2287","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O103421","accessionNumber":"T.79-2004","objectType":"Textile sample","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Ankara is a printed cotton cloth, produced in a variety of patterns formed by the layering of polychromatic dyes. Fashionable in West and East Africa since the late 19th century, ankara is variously known as 'African wax' or 'Dutch wax' print – despite wax rarely being used in its manufacture. Embodying the overlapping colonial  interests that prevailed in the region and beyond, the cloth has a complex history – rooted in trade monopolisation and cultural appropriation, yet acting as a conduit for African agency and resistance.\r\n\r\nOriginally produced in the Netherlands, ankara emerged from experiments to mechanically replicate batik, an Indonesian wax-print cloth traditionally developed by hand. Early Dutch attempts roller-printed a resin-resist onto both sides of the cloth before dyeing; the resist was then washed out, with additional layers of colour added by repeating this process, hand-blocking and/or roller-printing. The intended export market of Indonesia did not respond well to this imitation batik, as the resin was prone to cracking and bubbling, producing defects in the print. A keen market for the cloth did, however, emerge across West Africa in the 1890s, such that several factories – chiefly in Britain and the Netherlands – began producing ankara with this new customer in mind. Responding to market feedback on popular colours and patterns, European producers adapted ankara designs to suit the tastes of their discerning West African customers. In a collaboration between the consumer, dealer and manufacturer, local sellers would inform European merchants which styles were in demand and suggest motifs that would likely sell well.\r\n\r\nBy the early 20th century, a cheaper and more refined method of ankara production had been developed, roller-printing only one side of the cloth with a design, without the use of a resin-resist. Many examples of this later ankara purposefully include the imperfections that originally marred Dutch attempts to replicate batik – alluding to the more esteemed resin-resist technique.","physicalDescription":"Possibly skirt material. Printed cotton with border either side of dark blue, orange and white with a series of stepped lozenges, edged with scallop design leading into a dark blue ground on which is a large central motif of an oval shield hiding three spears, flanked either side by a curved sword.  Either side of this motif and the borders are two large gourd or purse forms with an upright handle - all in orange and white, outlined in light blue.  Batik style. Two selvedges.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Calico Printers' Association","id":"A6239"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Cotton","id":"x30425"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Weaving","id":"AAT53642"},{"text":"Printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"cotton, printing","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Black History","id":"THES48989"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2014HJ2287"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES307873"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sample","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1911","earliest":"1911-01-01","latest":"1911-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"69","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"87","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"49336","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Patent Office Registration Number"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Textile sample, printed cotton fabric, Calico Printers' Association, Manchester, England, 1911","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"The Calico Printers' Association is one of several companies - principally British or Dutch – who in the early 20th century designed, printed, exported and/or distributed factory-printed cotton textiles for the West African market. The CPA was founded in Manchester in 1899, formed from the merger of 46 textile printing companies and 13 textile merchants. Merchant traders, such as those overseen by the CPA, acted as middlemen between European manufacturers and West African consumers, bridging the geographical and cultural gap that separated them through their use of market knowledge, which ultimately influenced the design and distribution of such textiles. ","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"lozenges","id":"AAT9791"},{"text":"shields","id":"x31101"},{"text":"spears","id":"AAT37038"},{"text":"swords","id":"AAT37048"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.79-2004"],"accessionNumberNum":"79","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2004,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-15","recordCreationDate":"2004-09-10","availableToBook":true}}