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Unidentified Maker, Bamileke Kingdom, Ndop (Royal Display Cloth - detail), ca. 1900-1950s, Cameroon. Cotton, indigo, raffia, 42 x 378 in. (106.7 x 960.1 cm). Mingei International Museum, Gift of Barb Rich, 2015-35-066. Photograph by Ron Kerner, 2024.

Ndop (Royal Display Cloth)

Artist Unidentified Maker, Bamileke Kingdom
Year ca. 1900-1950s
Creation Place Cameroon
Medium Cotton, indigo, raffia
Dimensions 42 x 378 in. (106.7 x 960.1 cm)
Collection Mingei International Museum
Credit Line Gift of Barb Rich
Accession Number 2015-35-066

In the Bamileke Kingdom of Cameroon, this kind of indigo cloth, called Ndop, serves as a backdrop for official events of state. It is installed as a wall covering, demarcating the space where royal persons officiate. It is also used to make clothing reserved for royalty and for those who receive it as a gift. Today, it is also made as a cultural art form and sold on the international art market.

See the process of stitch resist in the examples on the next page.

Unidentified Maker, Bamileke Kingdom, Ndop (Royal Display Cloth), ca. 1900-1950s, Cameroon. Cotton, indigo, raffia, 42 x 378 in. (106.7 x 960.1 cm). Mingei International Museum, Gift of Barb Rich, 2015-35-066. Photograph by Ron Kerner, 2024.
Blue Gold Exhibition, Mingei International Museum, Photograph by Ron Kerner, 2024.
Unidentified Maker, Bamileke Kingdom, Ndop (Royal Display Cloth), ca. 1900-1950s, Cameroon. Cotton, indigo, raffia, 42 x 378 in. (106.7 x 960.1 cm). Mingei International Museum, Gift of Barb Rich, 2015-35-066. Photograph by Ron Kerner, 2024.
Blue Gold Exhibition, Mingei International Museum, Photograph by Ron Kerner, 2024.
Unidentified Maker, Bamileke Kingdom, Ndop (Royal Display Cloth - detail), ca. 1900-1950s, Cameroon. Cotton, indigo, raffia, 42 x 378 in. (106.7 x 960.1 cm). Mingei International Museum, Gift of Barb Rich, 2015-35-066. Photograph by Ron Kerner, 2024.
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