Category: B

bogolanfini

20th century, Africa, B, term definition

Bogolanfini (bogolan- meaning cloth; fini- meaning mud) is a cotton cloth made from strips of woven fabric, which are decorated with symbolic patterns using the mud-resist technique, sewn together at the selvage to create a fabric that is utilized during the main four stages of a West African Bamana woman’s life: puberty, marriage, motherhood, and death.

backstrap loom

Africa, Americas, B, L, term definition

The backstrap loom is a lightweight, mobile loom made of wood and a strap that is wrapped around the back. It only needed to be attached to a tree or a post for stability and to provide tension.

burqa

14th century, 15th century, 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Asia, B, term definition

An outer garment worn by Muslim women that covers the entire body, often with a cutout or mesh at the eyes.

pelete bite

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Africa, B, P, term definition

Pelete bite is a fabric created by the Kalabari Ijo peoples of the Niger Delta region by cutting threads out of imported cloth to create motifs.

bark cloth

19th century, 20th century, Africa, B, term definition

Bark cloth is fabric made out of bark from trees.

back apron (negbe)

19th century, 20th century, A, Africa, B, N, term definition

An oval-shaped decorative pad worn by Mangbetu women over the buttocks in Central Africa.

boubou

19th century, 20th century, Africa, B, term definition

The boubou is an African robe made of one large rectangle of fabric with an opening in the center for the neck. When worn it drapes down over the shoulders and billows at the sleeves.

falling band

1630-1639, 1640-1649, 1650-1659, 17th century, B, F, term definition

A flat and broad white collar often with lace on the edges, worn by men and women in the 17th century.

barbette

1300-1349, 1350-1399, 14th century, 15th century, B, Middle Ages, term definition

A piece of linen which passes under the chin and is pinned at the sides, usually worn in conjunction with additional head coverings during the Middle Ages.