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

The Lloyd Cotsen & Neutrogena Collection

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.