{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O263819"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O263819/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022NC7425/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022NC7425/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2022NC7425","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LP1280","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LP1284","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O263819/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O263819","accessionNumber":"CIRC.116D-1934","objectType":"Textile","titles":[{"title":"Aso òkè","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"Aṣọ-òkè is a handmade strip-woven cloth historically produced by the Yoruba in south-western Nigeria. Stripweave is an ancient textile type created by stitching together individual, narrow strips of handwoven fabric to form a whole finished cloth. Locally sourced silk and cotton has historically been hand-spun, dyed and woven by the Yoruba in the production of aṣọ-òkè. Weaving is traditionally the domain of Yoruba men, who use a single-heddle loom to produce long strips around four inches wide. These are then cut and stitched together to create the prestigious aṣọ-òkè cloth.\r\n\r\nLoosely translated as 'cloth from above' or 'cloth from the hill', the term aṣọ-òkè alludes to a revered past and the elevated status of the cloth. Garments and textiles created from aṣọ-òkè serve a variety of functions, with certain pieces reserved for special religious, communal or family occasions. Worn by both men and women, aṣọ-òkè is typically striped, though this design may be supplemented by additional weft-float decoration. This particular example is known as àlàárì aṣọ-òkè, due to it's magenta colouring and use of both silk and cotton. The cotton yarn is handspun from locally sourced cotton, whilst the silk is likely to be respun Italian silk which was traded across the Sahara. The individual woven strips have been hand-stitched together, whereas more modern examples may employ machine-stitching. Exhibiting wider than usual strips - almost twice the standard size - this cloth may be the product of experimental weaving.   ","physicalDescription":"Aso òkè cloth of woven indigo-dyed cotton, plain cotton and magenta silk. Utilising the ikat technique, the cotton thread was dyed prior to weaving, producing the variegated blue and white vertical stripes.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"ikat","id":"AAT249861"},{"text":"weaving","id":"AAT53642"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Woven ikat cotton, silk","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2022NC7425","2019LP1280","2019LP1284"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Woven cotton","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Africa","id":"x29327"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"west"},{"place":{"text":"Nigeria","id":"x30055"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1876-1899","earliest":"1876-01-01","latest":"1899-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"2180","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"19/08/2021","earliest":"2021-08-19","latest":"2021-08-19"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"1780","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"17/08/2021","earliest":"2021-08-17","latest":"2021-08-17"},"part":"Selvedge to selvedge","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured by conservation","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Small parchment/paper label stitched to it, which reads ‘Royal commissioner No. 931’.  ","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"We are very grateful to Professor John Picton for his advice in identifying several African textiles held by the V&A. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Aso òkè, woven ikat cotton and silk, Nigeria, 1876-1899","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Stripweave cloths, like aso òkè and kente, are ancient textile types, created by stitching together narrow strips of woven fabric to create a finished cloth. Different weaves, patterns and colours often have special meaning. For the Ewe, the patterns of kente cloth often make a reference to daily life, rather than social standing. Each pattern has a name, usually given by the weaver, which can be inspired by a historical event, a proverb or even individuals in pop culture. (CIRC.116D-1934, CIRC.321-1964, CIRC.766-1967) V&A, Room 40, <i>Africa Fashion </i>","date":{"text":"02/07/2022 - 16/04/2023","earliest":"2022-07-02","latest":"2023-04-16"}}],"partNumbers":["CIRC.116D-1934"],"accessionNumberNum":"116","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1934,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":false}}