1353 Antique Arkilla Kerka Wedding Tent Divider Hanging

Antique Arkilla Kerka Wedding Tent Divider Hanging

The woolen marriage bed-screens Arkilla kerka are one of the types in the broad category of the marriage bed-screens generically called Arkilla woven in the Inland Delta of the Niger River in Mali.

The Arkilla kerka are used by the Fulbe people.

These wool and cotton bed-screens are suspended along and over the alcove / bed, forming a mosquito protection by adding another piece of cloth to it.

The Arkilla kerka are a prestigious and an essential component of the bride's trousseau in the Fulbe society and therefore have an extremely important social and symbolic significance. Has hanging threads that are called boki.

Mali

 435 x 165 cm, 14.3 x 5.4 ft. 

Stains, holes, wear, tears and minor color run present.

Has been professionally dry cleaned in Singapore.

Similar Example (though much younger) may be seen in the British Museum Collection Acc Num Af2006,23.2

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This item has lived a hearty life participating in the lives of the original creators. Therefore signs of usage are present in the form of minor stains, tears, repairs, thread loss etc. 

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This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist/user. Signs of this life lived heartily may be present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections. Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect. More photos of such imperfections will be provided on request.

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