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Chief's Hat (Mpu).
Chief's Hat (Mpu)
Chief's Hat (Mpu).
Chief's Hat (Mpu).
Museum of International Folk Art; Gift of the Lloyd E. Cotsen and Neutrogena Corporation Collection. Photographs by Pat Pollard.

Chief's Hat (Mpu)

DateLate 19th century
Place madeZaire, Africa
(not assigned)Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa
MediumRaffia palm fiber
Dimensions14 × 6 1/2 in. (35.56 × 16.51 cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Lloyd E. Cotsen and the Neutrogena Corporation, A.1995.93.117
Object numberA.1995.93.117
DescriptionChief's Hat (Mpu); The hat has a tall cylindrical shape. It is composed of raffia palm fiber, knotted to create surface designs of an interweaving diamond lattice. Inside the larger diamond motifs there is a smaller diamond grid design. Both the crown and the rim are given a fine (crocheted?) stripe. Raised dots and stripes give texture to the overall design as well. Color: Natural medium tan (light brown) Technique: Knotting Note: This hat was formerly in the Hooper Collection (#1847A) and is published on page 400, of "Arts and Artifacts of the Pacific, Africa and the Americas- The James Hooper Collection", by Stephen Phelps Hutchison, London, 1976.
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