Currency cloth c. 19th century

This currency cloth was made by the Mbuun people. Its earthy tones and woven texture give it a tactile presence, inviting a close look at its structure. Notice how the artist uses the warp and weft to create a subtle pattern of horizontal lines. These lines divide the cloth into sections, emphasizing its geometric structure. The fringes, rather than being a mere decorative element, disrupt the rigid geometry of the cloth. They blur the edges, creating a visual tension between order and chaos. The cloth challenges the traditional concept of currency as a fixed and unchanging value. Instead, it presents currency as something organic and malleable. The texture and earthy tones connect it to the land, to the labor involved in its creation, and to the community that uses it. It invites us to reconsider the social and cultural values embedded in economic exchange. By destabilizing conventional notions of value, the cloth prompts a deeper reflection on how we perceive and construct meaning.