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The Fengu blankets are similiar to those of the Xhosa. This one has the fur trim which the Fengu prefer as well as the older mother-of-pearl buttons. There is also the fine black wool embroidery work and the delicate use of the glass bead-work. The blanket would have been worn partially folded over by about one third the width. The origin is Mazizini.
Man's Blanket (Ingubo)
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Man's Blanket (Ingubo)

Maker Zulu Artist
Date1850-1950
Place of originSouth Africa, Africa
MediumWool blanket, buttons, glass beads, thread, ochre
Dimensions6 ft. 6 in. x 5 ft. 8 in. (198.1 x 172.7 cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Norma Canelas Roth and William D. Roth
Object number2010.95.2
Collections
Visual DescriptionThe Fengu blankets are similiar to those of the Xhosa. This one has the fur trim which the Fengu prefer as well as the older mother-of-pearl buttons. There is also the fine black wool embroidery work and the delicate use of the glass bead-work. The blanket would have been worn partially folded over by about one third the width. The origin is Mazizini.
Cylindrical form wrapped with fiber, and hair and long braided strands on top. Glass or plastic bead strands on top and neck (yellow and blue beads) and wood or other brown beads (?) encircling form. Entire form is covered with red ochre
Doll
Ambo Artist, Mwila group
20th century
Wool blanket, with red color scheme; rectilinear, with 3 major bands of different geometric patterns in blue, black, white, green and purple beads sewn onto the outside surface. Short fringe of black, blue and white beads.
Gala Blanket (Nguba)
Ndebele Artist
c. 1960
Cylindrical core wrapped with strands of beads in registers of red, white and green; top is covered with white, red, blue, yellow and green beads, clumps of beaded strands on either side of top with same colors. Panels of beads encircle base, and rest on a thick ruffled white cloth skirt. Two brown buttons attached to one side, slightly askew.
Doll (nwana)
Tsonga Artist
20th century
A mixed-media piece with tightly packed buttons in concentric rings of alternating black and mixed-color buttons radiate outward from a central white disk speckled with tiny colorful marks.
Untitled
Elias Sime
2002
Two-piece ensemble Tunic made of synthetic damask cloth w/ silk embroidered geometric patterns in black, yellow, red, green; with mother of pearl buttons large and small sewn throughout in geometric patterns; see-through synthetic black panels on side of top "asherah nahuak; white cotton muslin trousers "srauleen" w/ silk embroidery on lower legs in red, orange, green, yellow and black thread"
Woman's Wedding Ensemble
Amazigh Artist
late 20th century
Rectangular blanket made from 5 strips, 9 in. each; fringes on each end. Stripes and lozenge patterns; black, reddish brown and yellow ochre on white field. Front is discolored (brownish) but back is white.
Blanket (kaasa or kassa)
Fulani Artist
20th century
This appears to be a modern version of a Tsonga doll. Donor notes state that it belonged to a healer or nsangoma and was for fertility, healing and used in engagement ceremonies for young women.
Child Figure (mwana)
Tsonga Artist
late 20th century
Wood cylinder with knob on each end, wrapped with dark blue beads, upper half, and strands of white glass and other beads on lower half, including vertical strands of ostrich shell beads and clear and light green glass beads. Large mother of pearl button in the center; right arm made of strand of alternating light and dark glass beads. Left arm is missing, as are some other beads.
Child Figure (okana kositi)
Ambo Artist
late 19th century
Beaded panels attached to a band of ostrich eggshell beads, with strands of ostrich eggshell beads forming a fringe between beaded strips of black and white beads, Beadwork is attached to a hide apron.
Apron
Yei Artist
20th century
The full figure of a standing cat, tail thrust upward.
Smiling Cat
Jesse Aaron
late 20th century
A black and white photograph of three children sleeping. One is wrapped in a sheet while the other two lie on top of the blankets.
Lindsey Family of Gainesville, Florida
Sheila White
ca. 1961
Handspun and handwoven strips, white cotton warp with wool weft, band of red on either end; floating weft patterns, geometric designs in black, red and ocher. Some loss of weft patterns and side finishing of black looped threads
Blanket (khasa)
Malian Artist
20th century

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