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Source Description
Costumes worn by the Kuba king, members of his family, and the nobility are spectacular. Raffia cloth, leopard skin, feathers, beads, and cowrie shells are combined in magnificent ensembles used for specific ceremonial roles. Beaded caps of this sort are worn only by members of the royal family. When not in use, they are preserved in royal storehouses.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
157556
label
Cap
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
157556
contentType
object
title
Cap
description
Costumes worn by the Kuba king, members of his family, and the nobility are spectacular. Raffia cloth, leopard skin, feathers, beads, and cowrie shells are combined in magnificent ensembles used for specific ceremonial roles. Beaded caps of this sort are worn only by members of the royal family. When not in use, they are preserved in royal storehouses.
date
early 1900s
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79974027
genreSpecific
Garment
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Diameter: 17.8 cm (7 in.); Overall: 13 cm (5 1/8 in.)
cul
Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuba-style maker
accession
1994.88
Source extras
tec
Plant fibers, cloth, glass beads, cowrie shells, and copper alloy
tombstone
Cap, early 1900s. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuba-style maker. Plant fibers, cloth, glass beads, cowrie shells, and copper alloy; diameter: 17.8 cm (7 in.); overall: 13 cm (5 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 1994.88
collection
African Art
didYouKnow
The beads and shells on this cap were imported from outside of central Africa.
citations
citation
Cleveland Museum of Art, “Recent Acquisitions to the Cleveland Museum of Art Collection,” August 26, 1994, Cleveland Museum of Art Archives.
creditline
John L. Severance Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:11:52.857000
sourceId
157556
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
Plant fibers, cloth, glass beads, cowrie shells, and copper alloy
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
41d5299ba390c6c9