Bwami Prestige Cap (Mukuba or Nkumbu)
early to mid-1900s
Maker Unknown
African Art
Bwami Prestige Cap (Mukuba or Nkumbu), early to mid-1900s. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lega-style maker. Plant fibers, elephant rawhide and hair, cowrie shells, glass beads, and cord; overall: 52.1 x 21.6 x 39.4 cm (20 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 15 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund 2005.56 While identified with Africa, cowrie shells were generally imported from the Indian Ocean region. After being collected near the Maldives islands, these Indo-Pacific shells entered parts of Africa via overseas trade routes.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Garment
- Formatted Medium
- Plant fibers, elephant rawhide and hair, cowrie shells, glass beads, and cord
- Dimensions
- Overall: 52.1 x 21.6 x 39.4 cm (20 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 15 1/2 in.)
- Departments
- African Art
- Accession Number
- 2005.56
- Credit Line
- Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund
- Exhibitions
- The Language of Beauty in African Art
- Rights Statement
- CC0
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