Cleveland Museum of Art

Wall Hanging (msimsim)

Date

1800s

Medium

Silk, dye

Culture

Africa, North Africa, Morocco, Tétouan, Moroccan weaver(s)

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Msimsim wall hangings were one of three standard marriage gifts ( ṣdāq or mahr ) from a groom to a bride in Tétouan, Morocco, as recorded by marriage contracts from 1794 to 1894. These gifts indicated the financial commitment of marriage: divorce occurred if they weren’t promptly received! This msimsim was made from silk harvested in Tétouan, or from raw Asian silk imported via Marseille. Its traditional design is a double-sided gridded brocade (raised woven pattern), navy on one side, crimson on the other. When this was woven, at least 25 professional silk workshops flourished in Tétouan, producing bridal gifts and other goods that outsold European imports. Some scholars believe these checkerboard fabrics were traded, and eventually influenced patterns in some West African strip woven textiles.

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