Pendant
19th century
Medium
Jute, raffia, cowrie shells, and beads
Dimensions
54.6 × 14 × 2.5 cm (21 1/2 × 5 1/2 × 1 in.)
Classification
pendant (jewelry)
Department
Arts of Africa
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148324
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
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. [...