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Man's Hat

Date

mid-20th century

Creator

Unrecorded Kuba artist
Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

Elaborate beadwork was a fundamental, visible sign of nobility in the Kuba Kingdom of Congo. The high classes wore beadwork daily. But during ceremonies and public functions, Kuba kings, royal title-holders, and other members of court often donned beadwork from head to toe. Masked figures representing mythic royal ancestors attending important ceremonies were also decked out in beaded regalia. Such displays of expensive imported glass beads and cowrie shells, which were a form of currency, exhibited the wealth, might, and sophistication of the kingdom.

from Morton, Dimensions of Power (South Bend, 2018)

Images

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Metadata

Creator
Unrecorded Kuba artist
Date
mid-20th century
Classification
Apparel and Adornments
Related Location
Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Medium
Glass beads, cowrie shells, raffia palm fiber cloth and thread, embossed brass
Dimensions
3 3/8 x 7 3/8 x 7 in. (8.64 x 18.8 x 17.78 cm)
Credit Line
Bequest of Owen D. Mort Jr
Copyright Status
Public domain
Subject
Congolese
hats
Kuba

Metadata

Accession Number
2017.025.437
Campus Location
Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
Access

Not on view, please request access

Metadata

Contact Us

Our collection information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. If you have spotted an error, please contact Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at RMMACollections@nd.edu.


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Raclin Murphy Art Museum
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Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA
Phone (574) 631–5466
RMMACollections@nd.edu
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