Funeral Winding Cloth (Shroud)

Label

From the Fon kingdom on the west coast of Africa, this colorful burial cloth is a model of the shrouds used to bury loved ones. Textiles are important forms of expression in many cultures and are used in various commemorative ways, including honoring the dead. Dressing the dead allows descendants to ensure the deceased’s continued social existence in the next life. The ritualistic practice of burial ceremonies reflects how funerals are not only for the dead but also for those who grieve them. The catharsis often experienced during burials speaks to the value of a collective ritual. The cloth is a way loved ones can show their appreciation for the person’s past life while celebrating the new life to come.

From the 2022 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 109, Nothing Gold Can Stay, curated by Amy Zaretsky '23, Conroy Intern

Exhibition History

A Space for Dialogue 109, Nothing Gold Can Stay, Amy Zarestky, Class of 2023, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 29 October - 23 December 2022

African Textiles, History 12, Harrington Gallery Teaching Exhibition, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, March 30-April 23, 1993.

Provenance

Purchased by Professor James W. Fernandez in Fon Market, Abomey, Benin (Dahomey) for Dartmouth College Museum, 1967.

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Subjects