Belt (Yeemy Mambolmashet)
INV-1483kuba (democratic republic of congo styleArts of Africaafrican ArtCentral Africabelts (costume accessory)arts of Africa
Date
19th century
Medium
Jute, raffia, cowrie shells, and beads
Dimensions
223.5 × 13.3 × 1.3 cm (88 1/4 × 5 1/4 × 1/2 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Richard Faletti, the Faletti Family Collection
In the Kuba Kingdom, ceremonial occasions require ostentatious displays of wealth and status through dress and other attributes. Specialized male artists excel in the making of beaded regalia like the belt displayed here. They sew both beads and shells onto a woven raffia foundation to create geometric designs. The interlaced pattern on this belt, called imbol, is a favorite Kuba motif that can also be seen on the raffia skirts worn with such beaded ornaments.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
