Hat

Unknown

19th–20th century · Fiber, elephant hair (?), cowrie shells · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Across communities in the Congo Basin, enormous creative innovation has been channeled into the design of headgear. Often their owners’ most valued apparel, such prestige caps revealed an individual’s erudition, cultural affiliation, marital status, and political stature. Among the Kuba, a succession of increasingly complex versions of the four-lobed laket mishiing are worn following initiation into manhood. The basic coiled and woven raffia fiber cap is the foundation for a vibrant array of fashions, including those embellished with bold graphic patterns, colorful embroidery, twisted raffia projections, and wealth in the form of imported beads and cowrie shells. Over time, these personal accessories might undergo further modification and enrichment through the addition of luxurious plumage and elegant carved hairpins.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th–20th century

Medium

Fiber, elephant hair (?), cowrie shells

Culture

Democratic Republic of Congo

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Gift of Lilly Daché, 1974