About this artwork
Short aprons are important to the history of women’s dress in many parts of Africa. Though today such aprons are rarely seen outside of ceremonial settings, they were considered to be appropriate coverings well into the mid-20th century. Like other forms of dress, women’s aprons were made from a variety of materials and in a range of styles that often reflected the social status of the wearer.
The widespread importation of glass beads beginning in the late 19th century led to a flowering of beadwork across West and Central Africa including the production of beaded women’s aprons. Such aprons demonstrate a range of abstract styles from rigidly structured to highly unstructured and explore variations in geometry, color, and texture. Different approaches to pattern represent different regional styles as well as possibly differences in age and marital status. This apron consists of a central pattern of diamonds in white, green, yellow, and orange and a border with a black, blue, and red zigzag pattern. Red, blue, black, and white lozenges are at both the top and bottom registers. Larger, circular light blue glass beads at the top of the fringe are connected to cowrie shells with cotton ties.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Culture
- Grasslands
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Title
- Woman's Apron
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Place
- Cameroon (Object made in)
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Date
- 1925–1975
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Medium
- Cotton thread, glass beads, and cowrie shells
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Dimensions
- 54.6 × 23.5 cm (21 1/2/ × 9 1/4 in.)(e×cluding ties; including fringe)
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Credit Line
- O. Renard Goltra Endowment
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Reference Number
- 2000.457