Object Details
- Unidentified artist
- Label Text
- In recent years, the practice of commissioning gold jewelry has declined. Instead, women opt to rent or borrow jewelry from family members to minimize cost. Rather than succumbing to the high costs of living in a city like Dakar, women have created opportunities for lavish display—while concealing the difficulties of pulling off such sartorial excellence in the midst of financial instability.
- Importing gold jewelry is also a flourishing business, and women are at the forefront of such practices. Many purchases are brought back for resale, while others inspire newly made creations, several examples of which are on display here. Whether on pilgrimage to Mecca, or jetting to various cities in Europe and the Middle East to buy gold, cosmetics, and fashionable shoes, enterprising women continue to capitalize on an enduring legacy of feminine business savvy.
- Description
- Gold-plated silver alloy two-piece hinged filigree bracelet cuff of central quatrefoil decorated in openwork filigree, central filigree flower and plain gold projections. The rest of the band is decorated in openwork filigree swirls in three sections. Push button latch closure.
- Provenance
- Marian Johnson, purchased in Dakar, Senegal, 1963-late 20th century to 2012
- Exhibition History
- Good As Gold: Fashioning Senegalese Women, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., October 24, 2018-February 2, 2020; North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, September 16, 2020-January 3, 2021
- Published References
- Maples, Amanda, Ashby Johnson, Marian, and Dumouchelle, Kevin D., 2018, Good As Gold, Washington, D.C.: NMAfA, Smithsonian, p. 21, illustrated p. 23
- 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 Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks.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 nmafacuratorial@si.edu 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/
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. Marian Ashby Johnson
- Late 20th century-early 2000s
- Object number
- 2012-18-182
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Jewelry
- Medium
- Gold-plated silver alloy
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 6.6 x 6.6 x 1.1 cm (2 5/8 x 2 5/8 x 7/16 in.)
- Geography
- Senegal
- See more items in
- National Museum of African Art Collection
- Object Name
- Bracelet de Dragon
- Loi de Lamine
- National Museum of African Art
- Topic
- Adornment
- Female use
- male
- floral
- flower
- Record ID
- nmafa_2012-18-182
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7708fcd4d-324c-4b6e-ae12-a2425833be02
