Pendant Belt (Nkody Mupaap)
INV-1483kuba (democratic republic of congo styleArts of Africaafrican ArtCentral Africapendant (jewelry)shell
Date
19th century
Medium
Jute, raffia, cowrie shells, and beads
Dimensions
54.7 × 21 × 3.2 cm (21 1/2 × 8 1/4 × 1 1/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Richard J. Faletti, the Faletti Family Collection
Since the inception of the Kuba Kingdom in the 16th century, individuals have signaled court rank and status with their elaborate dress. Glass beads imported from Europe and cowrie shells from the Indian Ocean have been used in the production of such accoutrements since the 18th century. Exclusively owned by men, bead- and shell-covered belts and pendants like this pre-1910 examples are still worn in combination with voluminous textile skirt-wrappers by both Kuba royalty and Kuba masqueraders. [See also 1997.460]
Also notable
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