Woman's ensemble
Object Details
- Date
- 1988
- Maker
- Edo artist
- Label Text
- The Benin court has a long history of assimilating luxury trade goods from neighboring and distant cultures. The embroidered and sequined Benin-style woman's dress and stole are sewn in an Indian silk sari cloth, known locally as "George," which is considered prestigious and expensive.
- Description
- Benin-style women's "George" floor length dress with matching stole; white and purple with embroidery and sequins.
- Provenance
- Gift made for Dr. Flora Kaplan by Queen Ohan Akenzua, 1988 to 2004
- Exhibition History
- TxtStyles: Fashioning Identity, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., June 11-December 7, 2008
- Published References
- Kreamer, Christine Mullen. 2008. TxtStyles/Fashioning Identity: 06.11.08-12.28.08. Exhibition booklet. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, pp. 10-11.
- 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 Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks.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 [email protected] 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/
- Geography
- Benin City, Nigeria
- Topic
- Status
- Adornment
- Female use
- male
- See more items in
- National Museum of African Art Collection
- Credit Line
- Gift of Flora Edouwaye S. Kaplan
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Object number
- 2004-10-10
- Type
- Textile and Fiber Arts
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Medium
- Silk cloth, sequins, beads
- Dimensions
- Dress: 151.5 x 144cm (59 5/8 x 56 11/16in.) Wrap: 181 x 82.5cm (71 1/4 x 32 1/2in.)
- Record ID
- nmafa_2004-10-10
Silk cloth, sequins, beads Dress: 151.5 x 144cm (59 5/8 x 56 11/16in.) Wrap: 181 x 82.5cm (71 1/4 x 32 1/2in.) Benin-style women's "George" floor length dress with matching stole; white and purple with embroidery and sequins.