QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-1064

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; The Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

00.0658

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2000:66.4

Object label:

Sawtooth Star
Mufu Ahmed
Osobogo, Nigeria
1997
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2000:66.4

Essay:

Artist's statement:
My inspiration comes from the traditional source of the way of life of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

The cloth was made using Adire cloth, a method that is used by the Yoruba people that incorporates ancient Indigo dyes with modern stitching techniques.

Quilt's title:

Sawtooth Star

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Sawtooth Star

Quilt top made by:

Ahmed, Mufu

Quilted by:

Ahmed, Mufu

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Purchased the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Osogbo

Where the quilt was made, country:

Nigeria

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

1997

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Male

Quiltmaker's country:

Nigeria

Quiltmaker's birth date:

1957

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Yoruba

Quiltmaker's educational background:

Primary school, Commercial Modern School , St. Andrews Teachers Training College

Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:

muslim

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Watch repairer, teacher, business man, car dealer, then batik artist

Number of children:

3

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From Relative

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 30-39

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

yes

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

100"

How long is the quilt?

97 3/4"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Mufu Ahmed

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on border

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Describe the borders:

Center medallion, Sawtooth Star with a zig zag border. First boder, a half medallion on each side with a quarter medallion on each corner. Second border, tie dyed indigo fabric. Third border, light blue and indigo fabric. Fourth border, tiedyed light blue and dark blue fabric

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Adire dying, a method that is used by the Yoruba people that incorporates ancient Indigo dyes with modern stitching techniques.

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:

The fabrics came from the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

Describe the source of the pattern:

My inspiration comes from the traditional source of the way of life of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:

Interview with quilter

Source of the information on this quilt:

Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

9/28/2000, Black Arts Studio, Nigeria

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum