id:			159002
accession number:	1995.211
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1995.211
updated:		2022-04-13 09:00:31.984000

Man's Bwami Prestige Cap (sawamazembe), early to mid-1900s. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lega maker. Plant fiber, seashells, seeds, pods, buttons, and probably cotton; overall: 35.8 x 26.7 x 19.2 cm (14 1/8 x 10 1/2 x 7 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1995.211

title:				Man's Bwami Prestige Cap (sawamazembe)
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			early to mid-1900s
creation date earliest:		1900
creation date latest:		1975
current location:		
creditline:			John L. Severance Fund
copyright:			

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culture:	Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lega maker
technique:	Plant fiber, seashells, seeds, pods, buttons, and probably cotton
department:	African Art
collection:	African Art
type:		Garment
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Overall: 35.8 x 26.7 x 19.2 cm (14 1/8 x 10 1/2 x 7 9/16 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		Standing on Ceremony: Traditional African Arms from the Donna and Robert Jackson Collection and the Cleveland Museum of Art
	opening date:   2004-04-24T00:00:00
	<i>Standing on Ceremony: Traditional African Arms from the Donna and Robert Jackson Collection and the Cleveland Museum of Art</i>. Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 24, 2004-March 15, 2005).

	title:		The Language of Beauty in African Art
	opening date:   2022-04-03T04:00:00
	<i>The Language of Beauty in African Art</i>. Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, TX (April 3-July 31, 2022) https://kimbellart.org/exhibition/language-beauty-african-art; The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL (organizer) (November 10, 2022-February 27, 2023) https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/9344/the-language-of-beauty-in-african-art.

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

* Western Reserve Historical Society (4/24/2004 - 11/27/2004): 'Standing on Ceremony: Traditional African Arms from the Donna and Robert Jackson Collection and the Cleveland Museum of Art"

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PROVENANCE

	Jacques Hautelet, La Jolla, CA
	date: until 1995
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH by purchase
	date: 1995 to present
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact: 
This prestige cap combines local organic materials and imported machine-made materials like buttons.

digital description: 


wall description: 
Among the Lega people of the eastern Democratric Republic of Congo, headgear was an important indicator of social position. Certain caps, headbands, and headdresses were the exclusive prerogative of the Bwami men's association. This headdress, called <em>sawamazembe</em>, was worn only by high-ranking members of this group. The hat's wig-like form represents a woman's coiffure, illustrating the blurring of gender distinctions among high-ranking Bwami members. The shell ornaments on the front suggest the moon, while buttons and a seed pod provide additional embellishment.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1995.211/1995.211_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1995.211/1995.211_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1995.211/1995.211_full.tif