Headpiece (nlo-o-ngo)
Unknown Artist
early 1900s
Medium
Plant fibers, cloth, hair, cowrie shells, buttons, upholstery studs, and thread
Dimensions
15.2 × 17.8 × 20.3 cm
Classification
Garment
Department
African Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Harold T. Clark Educational Extension Fund
Accession Number
1976.1057
About this artwork
This headpiece (nlo-o-ngo) was made to look like a similarly shaped hairstyle. While the coiffure gained height from inserts tucked under the hair, here the underlying basket was woven into a central ridge. Plant fibers were woven or braided to mimic hairstyling techniques. Rarely removed, the hat gave the appearance of elaborately styled and decorated hair. Three rows of cowries around the band evoke a shell or bead headband, while the metal furniture tacks are the same as would have been inser...