Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
A lamba is an untailored textile worn by all ages, classes, and genders across much of Madagascar. Woven from shining <em>Bombyx mori</em> silk, the lamba <em>akotifahana</em> takes its name from the weft-float motifs (akotifahana) that adorn it. Once the color of commoners and the enslaved, when Christianity became the state religion in 1869, elite churchgoers preferred white silk lambas. The rows of knotted fringe reflect Malagasy taste for Chinese-made “Manila shawls.”
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
703448
label
Wrapper (Lamba Akotifahana)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
703448
contentType
object
title
Wrapper (Lamba Akotifahana)
description
A lamba is an untailored textile worn by all ages, classes, and genders across much of Madagascar. Woven from shining <em>Bombyx mori</em> silk, the lamba <em>akotifahana</em> takes its name from the weft-float motifs (akotifahana) that adorn it. Once the color of commoners and the enslaved, when Christianity became the state religion in 1869, elite churchgoers preferred white silk lambas. The rows of knotted fringe reflect Malagasy taste for Chinese-made “Manila shawls.”
date
1860–90
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Textile
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 231 x 157 cm (90 15/16 x 61 13/16 in.)
cul
Madagascar, Merina Kingdom
accession
2025.271
Source extras
tec
silk (Bombyx mori and Borocera cajani)
tombstone
Wrapper (Lamba Akotifahana), 1860–90. Madagascar, Merina Kingdom. Silk (Bombyx mori and Borocera cajani); overall: 231 x 157 cm (90 15/16 x 61 13/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Sundry Art - African Art Fund and Textile Fund, 2025.271
collection
African Art
didYouKnow
A shining lamba like this was wrapped around the shoulders over tailored clothing like a suit or dress.
creditline
Sundry Art - African Art Fund and Textile Fund
updatedAt
2026-06-04 11:04:10.502000
sourceId
703448
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
silk (Bombyx mori and Borocera cajani)
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
fccd9aa99fc3cbc4