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National Medal of Arts awarded to B.B King, with case

Catalog Data

Distributed by:
National Endowment for the Arts, American, founded 1965  Search this
Owned by:
B.B. King, American, 1925 - 2015  Search this
Medium:
a: silver and ribbon
b: wood and cloth
Dimensions:
Diameter (a: medal with ribbon): 2 15/16 × 15 3/4 in. (7.5 × 40 cm)
H x W x D (b: box): 1 15/16 × 9 1/8 × 5 11/16 in. (5 × 23.2 × 14.5 cm)
Type:
boxes (containers)
medals
Place used:
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Date:
1990
Description:
This is a National Medal of Arts (a) awarded to B.B. King, along with its presentation box (b). The medal consists of a silver pendant in the shape of a swirl with a hole in the center. The swirl creates an uneven circle with smooth polished outer edges. The inside of the swirl is textured and rough. Around the top rim of the swirl is engraved text that reads “NATIONAL MEDAL OF ARTS 1990.” On the underside of the pendant the silver is textured. On the left it is engraved with text that reads “UNTED STATES / OF / AMERICA.” On the right it is engraved with text that reads “B.B. KING.” The medal is suspended from a woven strap of red, white, blue and silver threads. The strap is flat and threaded through a bar welded to the underside of the top of the pendant. The presentation box (b) is a dark blue leather case with a white and blue silk lining.
Topic:
African American  Search this
Blues (Music)  Search this
Instrumentalists (Musicians)  Search this
Music  Search this
Musicians  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number:
2021.102.2ab
Restrictions & Rights:
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification:
Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5c45fd8ad-b9d5-40b3-85f3-a74289c5917a
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2021.102.2ab