Object Details
Photographer
Elisofon, Eliot
Collection Photographer
Elisofon, Eliot
Collection Citation
Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution
Scope and Contents
"Appliqué workers are Fon men and boys living in the city of Abomey who belong to a family guild that transmits patterns for design from one generation to the next. Bright colored designs depicting animals, objects and humans are cut of plain weave cotton and sewn to a cotton fabric background. They depict particular kings, chiefs and warriors and their great achievements, historical events or moral teachings. Design and technique remain traditional. The figure resemble bas-relief done on palace walls and the entrances to the quarters of important men." [Graham R., 1992: Textures: The Spirit of West African Textiles, Hofstra Museum]. During his trip to Dahomey (now Benin), Elisofon visited the town of Abomey, in the Fon people region. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.
sova.eepa.1973-001_ref30109
Local Numbers
EENG-VIII-39, 8.
General
Title source: Index card based on photographer's notes.
Local Note
Typed index card reads, "H 2 Fon. Fon. Dahomey, Abomey. Men sewing applique cloth panels. Hairdresser at work in foreground. Feb.-Mar. 1971. EE. neg.no. VIII-39, 8." The card was written in 1977-79 by Archives staff using source provided by photographer.
Place
Africa
Benin
Occupation
Artists
Topic
Cultural landscapes
Photographer
Elisofon, Eliot
Culture
Fon (African people)
See more items in
Eliot Elisofon Field collection
Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Benin
Extent
1 Negatives (photographic) (b&w, 35mm.)
Date
1971
Archival Repository
Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
Identifier
EEPA.1973-001, Item EEPA EENG 03028
Type
Archival materials
Negatives (photographic)
Black-and-white negatives
Negatives
Collection Rights
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. Where noted, some images remain under the copyright of Life/Shutterstock. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Genre/Form
Black-and-white negatives
Negatives
Collection Restrictions
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
EEPA.1973-001_ref30109
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo7f3f24dea-cc02-440a-b87a-5da7cf879e24
EEPA.1973-001
EEPA
Record ID
ebl-1536870822481-1536871012483-1