TAMBOUR, ENEMBLE

Overview

Colourful tambour machine embroidered lady’s outfit, was bought by the donor when she visited Ghana, as part of a community project empowering women and helping them to become self-sufficient. Traditional Ghanian women’s outfit with sarong, top and sash.

The ensemble consists of a skirt, top and sash, made from burnt orange polished cotton with damask weave.

The tambour design, ntiamu & nwomo, has a circular pattern with adjoining quatrefoils.

The selvedge is the natural width and tambour embroidery is supported with vilene.

a) Skirt 1750 x 1310 mm with two ties 600 x10 mm

b) Top is cut in blocks of fabric. Bodice 740 mm neck to hem, 710 width. Sleeve 400 x 250 mm

c) Sash 1300 x 270 mm has a sun motif.

Traditional embroidery and printing techniques, “Nwomu and Ntiamu”, are indigenous structural and surface textile designs that give a unique and symbolic identity to the Asante people of Ghana. Studies have shown that Nwomu and Ntiamu techniques are limited in their applications as these cloths are significantly utilised for funeral and festive occasions.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-78-2024.33a-c
Last modified
Thursday, 14 August, 2025
Completeness
61
Embroiderers' Guild of WA Textile Museum

Embroiderers' Guild of WA Textile Museum

Organisation details
View collection

Machine tambour Ghanian costume
Machine tambour Ghanian costume
Machine tambour Ghanian costume
Machine tambour Ghanian costume
Machine tambour Ghanian costume
Machine tambour Ghanian costume

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