Djimini Heddle Pulley - Ivory Coast

From Jofa African Imports, "The pulley plays an important part in the strip cloth weaving, as it allows the heddles to move the warp threads. This enables the weaver to shuttle the weft back and forth, giving the cloth its design. This pulley is ornamented with tribal iconography."

Approximate dimensions: 8.25" x 3.5" x 2.75".

Materials: wood and gold paint.

Made in Côte d’Ivoire.

Jofa African Imports began in 2002 by the husband-wife team, Joe and Fatou, who met in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. They wanted to specialize in arts and crafts from the rich cultures of West Africa. Travels have taken them to Burkina, Mali, Niger, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Togo.

Over the years, their purchases have enriched the lives of many artisans and their families. With the upheavals in West Africa, their business travel has been curtailed, but fortunately, they have collected treasures, many stashed away for a long time, to keep their business afloat. They note a few things to remember: their pieces are all handmade, no two items are alike, many are vintage and all have human and natural imperfections.