Woman's Apron

Description

Bead working continues to be an important art form in parts of Africa to this day. The range of styles and compositions in aprons from northern Cameroon reflect the skill, virtuosity, and creativity of the women who designed and produced them. This apron plays on a theme of diamond shapes with shifting patterns and colors. Among the subtle details of the composition are five light-blue diamonds in the apron's upper edge, balanced at the bottom by the eight small blue beads in the otherwise all yellow fringe with cowrie shells along the bottom of the skirt.

Provenance

Martial Bronsin, Brussels, Belgium, before 2000; sold to Andrés Moraga, Berkeley, Calif., by 2000; sold to the Art Institute, 2000.

Woman's Apron

Grasslands

Mid–20th century

Accession Number

155984

Medium

Cotton thread, glass beads, and cowrie shells

Dimensions

55.9 × 20.3 cm (22 × 8 in.) (e×cluding ties; including fringe)

Classification

fiber

Museum

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

Credit Line

O. Renard Goltra Endowment