Possibly Yaka, Suku, or Holo
Kwango River region, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Central Africa
Chest Ornament (Bibika)
INV-1559
Possibly Yaka, Suku, or Holo
Kwango River region, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Central AfricaMid–20th century
Chest Ornament (Bibika)
Possibly Yaka, Suku, or Holo Kwango River region, Democratic Republic of the Congo Central Africa →yakaArts of Africaholosukucostumedecorative object/ornament
Date
Mid–20th century
Medium
Glass beads, cotton thread, coins, and shells
Dimensions
26.7 × 27.4 × 1.3 cm (10 1/2 × 10 3/4 × 1/2 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Arnold Crane Endowment
Distinctive, cylindrically shaped glass beads were imported to Africa in the early 20th century, where they captured the imagination of the Yaka and related peoples, who called them n-saanga. They were used to adorn chiefly headdresses and to make women’s anklets, ear pendants, necklaces, and large chest ornaments. The fringe of this red chest ornament terminates in small spiral-shaped Zimbu shells, which were commonly used as beads and currency in the region before the introduction of glass beads. [See also 2000.450].
Also notable
Works in the same vein
