Decortype › Textiles & Embroidery › Silk & Brocade Weaving

Malagasy lamba silks

Africa tradition · 5 examples · indicative market tier: $5k–50k (serious collector)

A lamba is the traditional garment worn by men and women who live in Madagascar. The textile, highly emblematic of Malagasy culture, consists of a rectangular length of cloth wrapped around the body. Traditional lambas used for burial were often made of silk and cow hides while those for daily wear were more often made of raffia, pig skin, cotton or bast. Wikipedia →

Types & examples

Wrapper (Lamba Akotifahana)
Wrapper (Lamba Akotifahana), 1860–90
Cleveland Museum of Art
Wrapper (Lamba Akotifahana)
Wrapper (Lamba Akotifahana), 1800s
Cleveland Museum of Art
Pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy)
Pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy), 1900s
Cleveland Museum of Art
One of a pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy)
One of a pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy), 1900s
Cleveland Museum of Art
One of a pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy)
One of a pair of shawls (Lamba Landy Fotsy), 1900s
Cleveland Museum of Art

Where to buy

1stDibsHigh-end antiques & design marketplaceBrowse listings → LiveAuctioneersAggregated live auctions worldwideBrowse listings → InvaluableAuction-house listings & price archiveBrowse listings → Christie'sMajor-auction results & upcoming salesBrowse listings → EtsyLiving artisans & vintage dealersBrowse listings → eBayBroad secondary market — vet sellers carefullyBrowse listings →

Each link opens a live, image-rich search for this craft on that marketplace. Listings rotate constantly; authenticate significant pieces independently — attribution quality varies widely outside museum collections.