Description
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.
Provenance
Jacques Hautelet, La Jolla, CA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art (1994); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1994-)
Accession Number
1994.87
Medium
Plant fiber, rawhide or leather, glass beads, seashells, cowrie shells, cloth, and colorant
Dimensions
Overall: 139.5 cm (54 15/16 in.)
Classification
Garment
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund