This baby-cloth dryer is made of straw and was crafted in Hargeisa, in Somaliland /Somalia during 2006. Some cloth dryers of its kind are painted with red, green or mauve colors.
The dryers are placed on the ground like a pyramid. Where possible, there is a clay pot on the ground that burns incense, thus giving a pleasant fragrance to the clothes as they dry. Straw dryers and other basketry objects in Somalia are mostly woven by women, as also illustrated in the Somali Shilling 1,000 banknote.
The construction of these objects is reminiscent of shelter frames covered in any material or fabric found in locations where Somalis have been and, unfortunately, continue to be displaced. As we look at these objects, we also think of the extreme drought and potential catastrophe that Somalis are faced with at present.