Barkcloth

  Natural barkcloth textiles with elaborate tribal decorations.  The Pygmy Mbuti people of the Congo rainforests originally used these as loin cloths.  Called Ishyeen by the Kuba people, artisans use ivory or wooden pounders to soften the fibers until they are workable.  Black dyes to decorate barkcloths are often made from the juice of the gardenia seed or charcoal.