Art Institute of Chicago

Pendant

Kuba

19th century

Attribution

Kuba Kasai region, Democratic Republic of the Congo Central Africa

Medium

Jute, raffia, cowrie shells, and beads

Physical dimensions

54.6 × 14 × 2.5 cm (21 1/2 × 5 1/2 × 1 in.)

Credit line

Gift of Richard Faletti, the Faletti Family Collection

From the museum

Since the inception of the Kuba Kingdom in the 16th century, individuals have signaled court rank and status with their elaborate dress. Glass beads imported from Europe and cowrie shells from the Indian Ocean have been used in the production of such accoutrements since the 18th century. Exclusively owned by men, bead- and shell-covered belts and pendants like this pre-1910 examples are still worn in combination with voluminous textile skirt-wrappers by both Kuba royalty and Kuba masqueraders. [See also 1997.461]

Description: Art Institute of Chicago · CC BY 4.0