Art Institute of Chicago

Woman's Apron

Grasslands

Mid–20th century

Attribution

Possibly Bourrah or Mokoko region, northern Cameroon Coastal West Africa

Medium

Cotton thread, glass beads, and cowrie shells

Physical dimensions

48.3 × 19.1 cm (19 × 7 1/2 in.) (e×cluding ties; including fringe)

Credit line

O. Renard Goltra Endowment

From the museum

Short aprons are important to the history of women’s dress in many parts of Africa. Though today such aprons are rarely seen outside ceremonial settings, they were considered to be appropriate coverings well into the mid-20th century. Like other forms of dress, women’s aprons were made from a variety of materials and in a range of styles that often reflected the social status of the wearer. The widespread importation of glass beads beginning in the late 19th century led to a flowering of beadwork across West and Central Africa including the production of beaded women’s aprons. Such aprons demonstrate a range of abstract styles from rigidly structured to highly unstructured and explore variations in geometry, color, and texture. Different approaches to pattern represent different regional styles as well as possibly differences in age and marital status. This apron consists of diamond-shaped patterns of glass beads in yellow, red, white, dark blue, green, orange, light green, and black. The top segment of the diamond pattern is broken up by smaller diamonds in a complimentary color. The border at the top consists of bars of multicolored beads. At the bottom are large, round glass beads leading to a doubled fringe attached to cowrie shells.

Description: Art Institute of Chicago · CC BY 4.0