Royal Belt (yet)

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-)

Royal Belt (yet)

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possibly early 1900s

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

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

John L. Severance Fund