Beaded Belt

NameBelt

CultureKuba people

Datec. 1950-1980

Place madeZaire, Africa

(not assigned)Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

MediumRaffia palm, cowrie shells, glass beads

Dimensions46 × 3 in. (116.8402 × 7.62 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Lloyd E. Cotsen and the Neutrogena Corporation, A.1995.93.193

Object numberA.1995.93.193

Collections

DescriptionEach belt is decorated with cowry shells and glass beads in various symmetrical arrangements. Four of them have specially designed centers sometimes with a special beaded knot. One belt has three pompoms of cowry shells with flattened points. The beaded areas include zig-zag, checkerboard and chevron design motifs. All the belts have a woven raffia base; colors are red-brown, black, white, blue, green, red, tan.