Artwork Page for Pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy)

Details / Information for Pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy)

Pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy)

1900s

Africa, East Africa, Madagascar

View all records in artwork set
Medium
Silk (Bombyx mori and Borocera cajani)
Measurements
Part 1: 74 x 211 cm (29 1/8 x 83 1/16 in.); Part 2: 61 x 213 cm (24 x 83 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
Sundry Art - African Art Fund and Textile Fund 2025.273
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Invented in the mid-1800s, shawls like this were popular until about 2000.

Description

A lamba is an untailored textile worn by all ages, classes, and genders across much of Madagascar. This is an example of a woman’s garment made after Queen Ranavalona II made Christianity the state religion of the Merina Kingdom. Soon after, all-white lamba became popular for both Sunday church and daily wear. Fotsy is white in the Malagasy language. Indicating its owner’s worldliness, the white-on-white patterns alluded to fashionable imported textiles with damask patterns.
Two vertical cream silk panels laid out side-by-side feature repeating white patterns in a grid. Motifs alternate between stacked rectangular blocks with zigzag lines and fanning, leaflike shapes. Both strips are finished at the top and bottom with long, knotted fringes. The pattern is created by dense white silk weaving on the cream background, giving the textile a subtle, textured appearance across its length.

Pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy)

1900s

Africa, East Africa, Madagascar

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork