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Pair of shoes

National Museum of African Art
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Object Details

Sarah Bola Clarkson
Krio artist
Label Text
Needlepoint slippers were typically worn with the "kabbah slot" dress. Krio women did needlepoint in wool yarn on canvas. The tops are done toe to toe > < on one canvas. This form is called a “house” locally. The individual designs also have names, this one is "Bitter Kola." When the needlepoint is finished the edges of the canvas are cut away, the back is sewn together and the fabric is lined. A male leatherworker then attaches the top to a leather sole.
Description
Pair of shoes with needlepoint tops and leather soles and an overall repeat pattern in blue and white wool yarn.
Provenance
Family of Cloris Davis, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 1920s
Lucille Chaveas, collected in Freetown, Sierra Leone, 2003 to 2013
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 Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks.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 Lucille M. Chaveas, wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, 2001-2004
ca. 1973
Object number
2013-4-11
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Textile and Fiber Arts
Medium
Cotton needlepoint canvas, wool, dye, leather
Dimensions
Each, L x W x D: 26.7 x 10.2 x 7.6 cm (10 1/2 x 4 x 3 in.)
Geography
Freetown, Sierra Leone
See more items in
National Museum of African Art Collection
Object Name
Bitter Kola
National Museum of African Art
Topic
Adornment
Female use
geometric motif
male
Record ID
nmafa_2013-4-11
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys705aeb35c-1dfe-406d-92d4-d04e51bc8089

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There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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