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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
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Randy Batista

Untitled

Artist Elias Sime (Ethiopian, born 1968)
Date2002
MediumMixed media with paint, buttons, thread and plastic plate on canvas
Dimensions52 1/8 x 56 3/4 x 1 1/4 in., (132.4 x 144.1 x 3.2 cm,)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineMuseum purchase, funds provided by friends of the Harn Museum
Object number2007.19
Collections
Visual DescriptionHundreds of multi-colored buttons arranged in concentric circles, alternating solid black bands of buttons with bands of buttons of various colors; at the center is a white dinner plate covered in colorful x's.
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)
Zulu Artist
1850-1950
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
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
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
Fired clay with beaked face on neck in high relief. Red clay with white pigment applied over top half. Scalloped collar-like ? with alternating red and black buttons above. Red button eyes with white circle in defined eye area indicated by raised area. Small mouth below beaked nose - ? 3 white circles. Traces of black in bottom and large area in back.
Sago Storage Jar with Bird Face (damarau)
Iatmul
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
Fired clay pot with rounded bottom and two long beaked faces (janus style) on neck in high relief. Red clay with white design on surface. Scalloped raised line (red) runs around center. Face has circular raised eyes with white centers. Raised red mouth with three white raised circles. Three raised "buttons" run horizontally between face. Traces of black on one side of jar.
Double face clay pot
Iatmul
20th century
Body of robe is green damask densely patterned with Three Friends of Winter motif; white satin cuffs and both the black binding and a woven pink binding are embroidered with butterflies. There is a narrow blue silk binding at hem and between white cuffs and bindings on sleeves; there is a gold ribbon on either side of pink binding panel. The buttons are a textured gilded brass, and the lining is an off-white silk.
Robe
Chinese Artist
Qing dynasty (1644-1911), late 19th century
Women’s Skirt with Motifs of Figures and Landscape 清代魚鱗百褶裙
Women’s Skirt with Motifs of Figures and Landscape 清代魚鱗百褶裙
Chinese Artist
Second half of the 19th century
Untitled: From a Collection of US Space Program NASA Photographs
Untitled: From a Collection of US Space Program NASA Photographs
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
1959-1992
Untitled: From a Collection of US Space Program NASA Photographs
Untitled: From a Collection of US Space Program NASA Photographs
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
1959-1992
A crescent-shaped adornment suspended by two flat grey straps. The pink fabric base is completely covered with round, cloth-covered buttons featuring vibrant, multicolored geometric and floral prints.
Wax print button bib necklace
Aisha Ayensu

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