Emat’eyeye (Itoci society hat)

ca. 1850–1920

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 363

Across communities in the Congo Basin, enormous creative innovation has been channeled into the design of headgear. Often their owners’ most valued apparel, such prestige caps revealed an individual’s erudition, cultural affiliation, marital status, and political stature. Among the Kuba, a succession of increasingly complex versions of the four-lobed laket mishiing are worn following initiation into manhood. The basic coiled and woven raffia fiber cap is the foundation for a vibrant array of fashions, including those embellished with bold graphic patterns, colorful embroidery, twisted raffia projections, and wealth in the form of imported beads and cowrie shells. Over time, these personal accessories might undergo further modification and enrichment through the addition of luxurious plumage and elegant carved hairpins.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Emat’eyeye (Itoci society hat)
Artist: Nkutshu or Dengese artist
Date: ca. 1850–1920
Geography: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sankuru River region
Culture: Nkutshu or Dengese peoples
Medium: Raffia palm fiber
Dimensions: H. 7 1/2 x W. 6 3/4 x Diam. 6 in. (19.1 x 17.1 cm)
Classification: Textiles-Costumes
Credit Line: Gift of Lilly Daché, 1974
Object Number: 1974.83.9
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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Emat’eyeye (Itoci society hat), Nkutshu or Dengese artist, Raffia palm fiber, Nkutshu or Dengese peoples — Emat’eyeye (Itoci society hat)
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19th–early 20th century

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first half of 20th century

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