Dahomey was the name of a country in west Africa now called the Republic of Benin. The Kingdom of Dahomey was a powerful west African state founded in the seventeenth century which survived until 1894. This wall hanging is part of a collection of textiles created using traditional Dahomey designs and given to the art department by James and Barbara Sellman. The Sellmans are well known in Richmond for their interest in and collection of African art.
The bright colors and stylized patterns make this hand appliqued picture particularly appealing to young students. It hangs permanently in one of the art studios at Collegiate.
