Textile, clothing and body ornament
CAPE
Probably Kuba, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, West Central Africa
This unusual cape is made from finely woven cotton or palm fibre. Such capes are worn by rulers and men of high rank. The openwork cloth indicates the high status of the wearer. A similar cape is displayed at the British Museum.
Collected by E.R. Dennett between 1879 and 1889 and donated in 1889
9/1889/59

FIVE CAPS
Probably Kuba, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, West Central Africa
These caps are status symbols and may only be worn by high ranking men. They are made from raffia palm leaves, dried and shredded to form fine threads. They are woven in a spiral, using knotting techniques to create the surface patterns. The most prestigious are decorated with leopards' claws.
Collected by E.R. Dennett between 1879 and 1889 and donated in 1889
9/1889/82, 9/1889/83, 9/1889/84, 9/1889/85 and 9/1889/86

PIECE OF RAFFIA CLOTH
Probably Kuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, West Central Africa
This tiny scrap of cloth represents Central Africa's most famous textile tradition.
Raffia cloth is woven by men and the cut-pile technique creates its velvety texture. The black, white and red geometric patterns vary enormously. These cloths are highly valued, displayed at funerals to demonstrate the wealth of the deceased.
Donated by Mrs. Frances Rose-Troup in 1938
48/1938/1

EIGHT FIBRE SKIRTS
Republic of the Congo or
Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Central Africa
These garments are made from raffia palm, pineapple or banana leaf fibres. They are worn by women as everyday clothing and with other costume elements for ceremonies and dances. We call them
'skirts' because they are worn around the waist. The darker examples have been coloured with vegetable dye.
Source unknown, acquired in
1938
48/1938/4/1, 48/1938/4/2,
48/1938/4/3, 48/1938/4/4,
48/1938/4/5, 48/1938/4/6,
48/1938/4/7 and 48/1938/4/8

BARKCLOTH
Possibly Ituri, Mbuti, Azande or
Mangbetu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central
Africa
Barkcloth is made from beaten fig-tree bark. It is worn by women and men, wrapped around the body as a loincloth or skirt. The most famous examples are made by Pygmy groups of the equatorial rainforest. These are usually painted by women in abstract patterns, using plant juice and charcoal.
On loan from the Woodspring
Museum, Weston-Super-Mare, since 1993
136/1993/46

HEADDRESS
In Africa, elaborately decorated wigs, hats and headdresses often echo the form of hairstyles. This head-dress is made from strips of twisted leather knotted onto an animalskin base, with a beaded decoration. It would have been worn on the top of the head, hanging down the back, resembling a wig.
Donated by Mrs. Helen Jones
193/1998

IRON BRACELET
Kongo, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo or Angola, West
Central Africa
This bracelet has three human-like faces, suggesting that it may be associated with the
(Kongo?) Lemba cult. This is a secret society into which elite men are initiated. A similar bracelet is shown on the Smithsonian Museum website. Blacksmiths in Africa are regarded as ritual specialists, transforming materials through fire.
Collected by E.R. Dennett between 1879 and 1889 and donated in 1889
9/1889/65

COPPER BRACELET
Probably Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa
Heavy bracelets and anklets are worn as status symbols. This one, decorated with linear and floral patterns, may have been formed by heating a metal bar and shaping it round the body of the wearer as it cooled. Copper bracelets and other metal objects are used as currency in Africa.
Probably collected by C.Francis and donated by the Governors of Blundell's School,
Tiverton, in 1938
57/1938/18

TWO METAL BRACELETS
Central Africa
Each of these bracelets is formed of a bent metal rod with three round protrusions.
Metal objects, including personal ornaments, are often used as currency in Africa. Bracelets like this one are also found in West as well as Central Africa, and may have been traded between the two areas.
Source unknown, probably late nineteenth or early twentieth century
158/2000/1/1 and 158/2000/1/2

COMB
Central Africa
Combs are used by both women and men for decorating their elaborate hairstyles as well as grooming. Men use them to comb their beards as well as their hair. This finely carved comb would have been made by a man - in some parts of Africa all men carve wood.
Donated by R. Waterfield in 1945
9/1945/12

COMBS
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa
Combs are used by both women and men for decorating their elaborate hairstyles as well as for grooming. Men use them to comb their beards as well as their hair. These finely carved combs would have been made by men - in some areas of Africa all men carve wood.
Probably early twentieth century
On loan from the Woodspring Museum, Weston-Super-Mare, since 1993
106/1993/10, 106/1993/13, 106/1993/14, 106/1993/15, 106/1993/16

TWO MIRRORS
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa
These two mirrors are set in wood, finely carved with floral and linear patterns. They are made in the form of modern European hand-mirrors and may have been produced for tourists. Although mirrors had a special significance in Central African religion, these examples appear to be intended for personal grooming.
Probably early twentieth century
On loan from the Woodspring Museum, Weston-Super-Mare, since 1993
106/1993/11 and 106/1993/12