The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 4, 2026

A vertically long off-white silk textile features four columns of repeating white patterns arranged in a grid. Two motifs alternate: one consists of upward curving, fan-like lines, and the other is a geometric design of nested zigzags and diamonds. Long, twisted fringe hangs from both ends. The material displays a subtle horizontal texture, with a small area of light discoloration near the top.

One of a pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy)

1900s

Africa, East Africa, Madagascar

Silk (Bombyx mori and Borocera cajani)
Part 2: 61 x 213 cm (24 x 83 7/8 in.)
Sundry Art - African Art Fund and Textile Fund 2025.273.2
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Invented in the mid-1800s, shawls like this were popular until about 2000.

Description

A lamba is an untailored textile worn by all ages, classes, and genders across much of Madagascar. This is an example of a woman’s garment made after Queen Ranavalona II made Christianity the state religion of the Merina Kingdom. Soon after, all-white lamba became popular for both Sunday church and daily wear. Fotsy is white in the Malagasy language. Indicating its owner’s worldliness, the white-on-white patterns alluded to fashionable imported textiles with damask patterns.
  • –c. 2010
    French Indian Ocean family (Madagascar, Réunion, or Mauritius)
    c. 2010–2025
    Zareh Achdijian
    2025
    The Cleveland Museum of Art
  • {{cite web|title=One of a pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy)|url=false|author=|year=1900s|access-date=04 June 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2025.273.2