Adire Eleko Olokun Woman’s Wrapper Yoruba people, Nigeria Circa 1960s Cotton (2 panels), starch-resist and stencil dyed with indigo 76x 69 ins. (193 x 165 cm) A superb and classic design in the adire eleko repertoire, this distinctive configuration of patterns is titled Olukun after the orisha or female deity of the ocean, wealth and prosperity in the Yoruba pantheon. The abundance associated with Olukun is conveyed by the number and variety of geometric and representational motifs. Although the distinctive adire eleko tradition first developed around 1910, the art form saw a flourishing period of experimentation, adaptation and innovation during the 1960s, which was particularly associated with individual artists and known workshops that developed their own styles and often signed their work. There is a workshop or artists symbol on the back of the hem. $2000
