Royal Belt (yet)

possibly early 1900s

Royal Belt (yet), possibly early 1900s. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kuba Kingdom, Kuba-style maker. Plant fiber, rawhide or leather, glass beads, seashells, cowrie shells, cloth, and colorant; overall: 139.5 cm (54 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1994.87 Attributed to Kuba peoples of southeast Democratic Republic of Congo, this prestige belt boasts superb craftsmanship. The accumulation of a variety of materials indicates the high status of its wearer. It is made from leather strips and finely accessorized with a combination of intricately patterned bead designs, cowries, seashells, and bells. It would have been worn over a large raffia skirt by a man during ceremonial occasions. It was acquired from the Belgian dealer Jacques Hautelet in 1994. Cowry shells, a type of currency used in the Kuba Kingdom in Central Africa, decorate this belt made for a king. The intricate patterns and colors of the beads indicate the high status of the wearer as well as the wealth of his kingdom.