Traditional African clothing starts with the minimum required to fulfill norms of modesty--the attire of youth is the beaded cache-sexe, the small apron-like garment that covers a woman’s pubic region. On very special occasions, tops or chest ornaments were added to the minimal attire worn by young girls. Among the Ndebele peoples of the Northern Transvaal region of South Africa, it is the women who create distinctive and beautiful beadwork and mural paintings. Their designs tend to compact forms, primarily geometric, but may include modern objects or symbols.
Description:
Cloth breastplate composed of a square beaded panel with an openwork beaded strap. Breasplate has geometric motif in blue, orange, green and red beads on a white beaded background.
Provenance:
Norman and Suzanne Priebatsch,collected Pretoria area, South Africa, -- to 1978
Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Gross, New York, 1978 to 1983
Exhibition History:
TxtStyles: Fashioning Identity, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., June 11-December 7, 2008
Published References:
National Museum of African Art. 2008. TxtStyles/Fashioning Identity: Activity Guide. Exhibition booklet. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Content Statement:
As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
Image Requests:
High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
