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ROYAL BAKUBA NTSHAKISHEEN WITH WOOT DESIGN browse these categories for related items... Directory: Antiques:Regional Art:African:Textiles: Pre 1920: Item # 620916
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| Bakuba Peoples, Congo. This is a Royal Bushongo Queen's overskirt, called a "Ntshakisheen" - "Ntshak-" for a woman's garment, and the use of barkcloth in the center ("Mboom") denoting the type of Ntshak, hence "Ntshakisheen". Worn only by the highest ranking women at Court, this shows the traditional "Richileu" embroidered edge, but in this example the embroidery is executed in the revered "Woot" design - as, the Bakuba call themselves "the children of Woot". Interestingly, this example shows a piece of "Richileu" embroidery added subsequently, not original to the piece, which shows how the Bakuba revered, kept, and re-used their finest Apparel. Measuring approximately 61" x 28 1/2" (155 x 72.5 cm.), this is in overall very good condition, as barkcloth does not keep well in the Congo. Authentic. royal. Rare. In the "Art History of Bakuba Textiles" (unpublished manuscript) it is shown that the Royal 'Court' dress of the Bakuba evolved markedly from the early- to mid-twentieth century as noted in photograhic record; that while Ntshakisheen held primary importantce to the 'first queen' of the Bakuba Royal King Nyimi Kot Ma'bi'i'nc (ruled 1919-1939), see image (ph. Achten, 1927), by the mid-twentieth century the class of "Labot Latwool" royal garments had also evolved, including Ntshabwiins and Ntshakikots, while Ntshakisheens had fallen from favor in preference for new fashion at court - fashions including the widespread use of beadwork in the Labot Latwool class of garments, in the Queens' 'court' dress (see Cornet). | ||
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