Coiled sweetgrass basket sewn by Sue Middleton

Attributed to

Middleton, Sue, American, born 1934

Medium

sweetgrass, pine needles, and palmetto

Dimensions

7 x 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. (17.8 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm)

Type

baskets

Classification

Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

Place made

Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America

Date

early 1980s

Description

A round sweetgrass basket (a) with lid (b) sewn by Sue Middleton. The basket is made of coils of dried sweetgrass bound with strips of dried palmetto, with pine needles sewn in for color. The base of the basket has a flat bottom, with pine needles creating a darker circle in the middle of the base. Rising up from the base are straight sides with one coil of sweetgrass sewn in around the exterior of the basket in a decorative pattern that rises up straight from the base, runs along the top for several inches, then straight back down to the base, follows along the base for several inches, and then repeats. Behind the decorative coil is a band of darker pine needles. Above the deorative coil, the sides of the basket begin to slope inward, forming a narrower mouth for the lid to fit over. The round lid has a small knob handle in the center and then slopes slightly down, with a small lip extending down to fit over the mouth of the basket. The handle has pine needles woven in and around, with a decorative knot in the very top and five decorative knots dispersed evenly around the base of the handle. There is a band of pine needles around the edge of the basket lid.

Topic

American South

Communities

Craftsmanship

Domestic life

Folklife

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Richard E. Ahlborn

Object number

2007.5.1ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Black Uncle Sam pieced miniature quilt

Created by

Blumrich, Stephen, German-American, 1941 - 2015

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W x D: 30 × 21 7/8 × 1/4 in. (76.2 × 55.6 × 0.6 cm)

Type

quilts

Classification

Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

Textiles-Quilts

Place made

Tullahoma, Coffee County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America

Date

1986

Description

This miniature quilt or wall hanging made by Stephen Blumrich of Pea Ridge Purties features twelve (12) pieced Black Uncle Sam blocks separated by sashing. The quilt consists of the pieced top layer, a thin layer of batting, and a plain muslin backing. The layers are tied together with red thread, each tie corresponding to make a button at the center chest of the shirt of the pieced figural blocks. Each figure wears a red and white striped top hat with a blue brim and has his arms outstretched. The faces and hands are made from plain black cotton. Yellow eyes and a red mouth are embroidered on each face. All of the figures wear red and white striped pants matching the hats, but each figure's shirt is made from a different printed cotton. The background of the figural blocks is made from a plain muslin that appears to have been dyed with tea or coffee to appear aged. The blocks are set with sashing made from a navy cotton with small floral sprig design, with a yellow fabric in the sashing corners that is fussy cut so that a five-pointed star is at the center of the squares. The top is surrounded by a thin border made from plain red cotton. The backing of the quilt is made from a single piece of the same plain muslin dyed with coffee or tea that is used in the background of the figural blocks. Stamped in the lower right corner of the back is a rectangle in dark brown with uncolored text inside reading "PEA RIDGE / PURTIES." Text stamped in dark brown below the box reads "COPYRIGHT 1986 / STEPHEN BLUMRICH".

Topic

Art

Craftsmanship

Folklife

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer

Object number

2007.7.263

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Boat seat with spider web design from Ecuador

Created by

Unidentified

Used by

Nazareno, Débora, Ecuadorian

Owned by

Juan García Salazar, Ecuadorian, 1944 - 2017

Medium

wood

Dimensions

H x W x D: 5 1/2 x 12 7/8 x 14 3/4 in. (14 x 32.7 x 37.5 cm)

Type

seating

Classification

Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050

Place made

Esmeraldas, Ecuador, Latin America, South America

Date

early 20th century

Description

A carved wooden boat seat with two legs and a concave center. The seat has a design etched into its surface of a spider web. A spider is at the center of the web.

Topic

African diaspora

Art

Craftsmanship

Folklife

Ornamentation

Transportation

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Juan Garcia Salazar

Object number

2008.18

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Untitled

Created by

Samuels, Ossie Lee, American, born 1931

Medium

acrylic paint with glitter and glass and metal on wood

Dimensions

24 3/4 x 48 1/4 x 15 3/4 in. (62.9 x 122.6 x 40 cm)

Type

sculpture

Classification

Visual Arts

Place made

Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States, North and Central America

Date

after 1982

Description

Sculpture in the form of a leopard. This is a carved wooden body of a large, pacing wild cat. Head lowered, legs splayed, the sculpture appears to be stalking forward, tail held horizontally. The body of the sculpture is painted black, with spots of gold and silver glitter thickly covering the back and exterior of the legs, as well as the tail. The head is free of spots. The ears are outlined and detailed in silver paint. The eyes are gold glass marbles. The mouth, a slight indentation carved into the head, is outlined in silver paint. A gold painted fang overlaps the lower lip on each side. Other facial features are carved shallowly and painted black. There is a small bare patch under the chin where the black paint is only thinly applied. The front two paws have claws of metal nails; the back paws are bare.

Topic

Art

Folklife

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Calynne and Lou Hill

Object number

2010.64.4

Restrictions & Rights

© Ossie Lee Samuels. Permission required for use.

The Colored Sacred Harp

Written by

Jackson, Judge, American, 1883 - 1958

Printed by

Paragon Press, American

Medium

ink on paper , cardboard , synthetic fiber (binding)

Dimensions

H x W x D (Closed): 6 5/16 × 9 3/16 × 9/16 in. (16 × 23.3 × 1.4 cm)

H x W x D (Open): 6 5/16 × 18 7/16 × 9/16 in. (16 × 46.8 × 1.4 cm)

Type

hardcover books

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Exhibition

Musical Crossroads

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Place made

Montgomery, Alabama, United States, North and Central America

Date

1973

Description

A hardback copy of The Colored Sacred Harp, by J. Jackson. Front and back cover are light blue. Front cover reads [THE COLORED SACRED HARP/by/J. JACKSON/Author and Publisher/Ozark, Alabama] in gold type, various font sizes. Handwritten notes on first interior page, in pencil in top right corner, reading [11597/U-Mus] and [1st Revising/Edition/1973/150.00]. Interior pages, 96 total, including title pages, and "Contents" on last page, are off-white with black type, containing mostly musical staff lines. Nothing on back cover.

Topic

American South

Folklife

Music

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2014.193

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Melrose Plantation Cookbook

Written by

Hunter, Clementine, American, ca. 1886 - 1988

Mignon, Francois, American, 1899 - 1980

Published by

Baker Printing & Office Supply, American

Subject of

Melrose Plantation, American, founded 1832

Signed by

Hunter, Clementine, American, ca. 1886 - 1988

Medium

ink on paper (fiber product), plastic, adhesive

Dimensions

7 7/8 × 5 1/8 × 3/16 in. (20 × 13 × 0.5 cm)

Type

cookbooks

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050

Place printed

Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas, United States, North and Central America

Date

1956

Description

A copy of the Melrose Plantation Cookbook by Clementine Hunter and Francois Mignon. The book is paperback and bound with a plastic binding comb on the left spine. The front and back cover are identical, with a faded photograph of the Melrose Plantation house with wrap-around veranda, gabled roof, and garden taking up the top half of the cover. The bottom half faded yellow field with the title printed in dark ink in a gothic font with the authors names below. The front cover has a white sticker with the library's call number adhered to the upper left corner reading [TX / 715 / .M53x]. The interior of the book has a book plate for the Library of Stephen F. Austin Statue University as well as a Due Date slip. The contents of the book include an illustrated map and several pages of photographs of the Melrose Plantation, Clementine Hunter (one features her signature), and Francois Mignon. The text consists of a seven page introduction, and 31 recipes.

Topic

American South

Cooking and dining

Folklife

Foodways

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2014.238

Restrictions & Rights

© 1956 By Francis Mignon. Permission required for use.

The Conjure Woman

Written by

Chesnutt, Charles W., American, 1858 - 1932

Published by

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, American, founded 1880

Produced by

Riverside Press, American, 1852 - 1971

Medium

ink on paper with gold, cloth, cardboard and acetate film

Dimensions

H x W x D (Closed): 7 1/8 × 4 7/8 × 1 1/16 in. (18.1 × 12.4 × 2.7 cm)

Type

hardcover books

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050

Place depicted

Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America

Place printed

Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Date

1899

Description

This book is a first edition, first printing of “The Conjure Woman," a collection of seven short stories, all set in "Patesville," North Carolina and told through the view point of the character Uncle Julius: The Goophered Grapevine, Po’ Sandy, Mars Jeems’s Nightmare, The Conjurer’s Revenge, Sis’ Becky’s Pickaninny, The Gray Wolf’s Ha’nt, and Hot-foot Hannibal. The book has a tan cloth binding. The front cover has three illustrations set in in red blocks at top center of the cover. From left to right the illustrations include a white hare, an elderly bald man with a beard, and a white hare. Title of book, [THE CONJURE WOMAN], is embossed beneath the red blocks in gold serif typeface and author's name, [CHARLES · W · CHESNUTT], centered at bottom of the front cover, also in gold serif typeface. The spine text is all printed in gold serif typeface. The text along the top third of the spine reads [THE / CONJURE / WOMAN]. The author's name [CHARLES W · / CHESNUTT], is embossed on the center of the spine and the name of the publishers [HOUGHTON / MIFFLIN CO] is embossed across the bottom of the spine. The book is two hundred and twenty-nine pages and includes a title page and contents page.

Topic

American South

Folklife

Language

Literature

Race relations

Stereotypes

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2014.280

Restrictions & Rights

Public domain

Voodoo Guitar "Marie" made by Don Moser with debris from Hurricane Katrina

Created by

Moser, Don, American

Medium

Wood, copper, brass, tin, and plastic with fabric and rhinestone

Dimensions

H x W x D (guitar): 41 3/4 × 13 3/4 × 2 3/8 in. (106 × 34.9 × 6 cm)

H x W x D (Wood box): 5 x 47 7/8 x 17 in. (12.7 x 121.6 x 43.2 cm)

Type

musical instruments

guitars

Classification

Musical Instruments

Exhibition

Musical Crossroads

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Place made

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Date

2005

Description

The Voodoo Guitar (.1) used by Don Moser of Swampkat. The 6-string electric guitar is wooden with metal-plated head and body. A plaque on the head features text that reads [KATRINA - AUG - 29- 2005]. Metal letters are adhered along one side and the bottom of the head, following the curve [NEW ORLEANS / VOODOO]. Multiple "windows" were built into the guitar head. Contents include objects such as a voodoo doll and rhinestone fleur de lis brooch. At the center of the head, a figurine is attached atop the strings. It is shaped like a cross. Its top half is black, while the bottom is white and covered with multi-colored beads. Brown hair-like fibers extend out of the top and two arms. A handwritten letter (.2) on white paper with rough, burned edges is attached under the strings. It visually blocks part of the head and reads [DEAR KEVIN, / THANKS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU AND / YOUR TEAM HAS PUT INTO THE VOODOO GUITAR / PROJECT. / I'VE ENJOYED EVERY MIN. OF THE JOURNEY. / THIS IS THE VOODOO GUITAR. PLEASE TAKE / EXTRA CARE OF HER, I GROWN QUITE FOND OF HER! / THE GUITAR IS SET UP AND PLAYS GREAT, SHE SOUNDS / LIKE THE DEVIL MOVING FURNITURE! / BLESSINGS / DON]. The back of the neck is light-colored wood, and the back of the head is dark wood. A gold-colored metal plaque situated at the base of the neck features engraved text that reads [KATRINA / YOU THOUGHT / YOU COULD KEEP / THE OL BIG EASY / DOWN BUT WE / STILL HEAR OUR / BRASS BANDS / BLOWIN OH WHAT/ A BEAUTIFUL / SOUND]. A clear plastic cylinder is attached to the underside of the head. It has a metal top & bottom and contains a fuzzy object.

Topic

Art

Communities

Folklife

Music

Musicians

Ornamentation

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Musician/Artist Don Louis Moser

Object number

2015.119.1-.2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

De Nyew Testament

New Testament translated into Gullah-Geechee

Published by

American Bible Society, American, founded 1816

Medium

ink , paper (fiber product)

Dimensions

H x W x D (closed): 8 1/2 × 5 3/8 × 7/8 in. (21.6 × 13.7 × 2.2 cm)

Type

Bibles

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Religious and Sacred Objects

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050

Place printed

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted

United States, Sea Islands, North and Central America

Date

2005

Description

The New Testament in Gullah, Sea Island Creole with marginal text of the Kings James Version. Small blue ribbon attached to spine at top to be used as bookmark. Book was published by the American Bible Society.

Topic

Folklife

Language

Religion

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Deborah L. Mack

Object number

2015.156.1

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Ivory powder horn with carved decoration

Created by

Unidentified

Medium

horn and wood

Dimensions

L x diameter x weight: 10 1/2 × 3 1/16 in., 152Grams (26.7 cm, 0.2 kg)

Type

powder horns

Classification

Slavery and Freedom Objects

Tools and Equipment-Military

Exhibition

Double Victory: The African American Military Experience

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053

Date

18th century; engraved after 1861

Description

A powder horn with scrimshaw decorations. The powder horn shaft is made from cow horn. On one side of the horn's base, there is an engraved illustration of a seated African American officer smoking a cigar inside a tent, guarded by a white soldier in a tattered uniform. The text underneath the image reads: [Negro officer / & / White Soldier]. On the reverse side of the powder horn is an engraving of an African American man dancing with a white woman. The African American man is wearing trousers but no shirt, and the woman is wearing a long-sleeved dress with her long hair pulled back into a bun. The text above the image reads: [New England Ladies / teaching Negroes]. These images are surrounded by decorative, architectural borders. Most engraved areas appear to have been colored with an iron-based substance, possibly iron gall ink, and the surface of the horn appears yellow, whether by age or artificial coloration. The circumference of the base has jagged edges, with some remaining peg holes through which pegs or nails would have been placed to secure the base, although none remain. A replacement circular wooden butt plug is glued into the base. The narrow end of the powder horn is carved, turned, and colored dark brown. Originally it would have been closed with a peg or stopper, now missing.

Topic

American South

Education

Emancipation

Folklife

Military

Ornamentation

Race relations

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Marion T. Lane, Ed.D.

Object number

2015.247.3

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Traditional Grain Storage II

Created by

Jackson, Mary A., American, born 1945

Medium

sweetgrass, pine needles, bulrush and palmetto

Dimensions

H x W x D (2015.50.1ab): 11 7/8 × 18 1/2 × 15 3/4 in. (30.2 × 47 × 40 cm)

H x W x D (2014.50.1a): 10 3/8 × 18 1/2 × 14 7/8 in. (26.4 × 47 × 37.8 cm)

H x W x D (2015.50.1b): 2 5/8 × 15 3/4 × 15 3/4 in. (6.7 × 40 × 40 cm)

Type

baskets

Classification

Visual Arts

Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050

Place made

Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America

Date

2014

Description

A traditional sweet-grass basket made by Mary A. Jackson. The basket is wide and has a round shape that tapers slightly at the top. It has a flat bottom. The basket has two handles and a removable lid (2015.50.1b). The lid rests on top and has a narrow lip. The basket features different striations of color consisting of lighter and darker colored sweet-grass.

Topic

Agriculture

Art

Communities

Craftsmanship

Folklife

Foodways

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2015.50.1ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Charles David Kleymeyer Oral History Interview

Created by

National Museum of African American History and Culture, American, founded 2003

Recorded by

Patrick Telepictures, Inc., American

Interview of

Dr. Kleymeyer, Charles David, American, born 1944

Interviewed by

Navies, Kelly Elaine, American

Subject of

Juan García Salazar, Ecuadorian, 1944 - 2017

Inter-American Foundation, American, founded 1969

Medium

digital

Dimensions

Duration (2016.129.18.1b): 85.1 minutes

Duration (2016.129.18.2a): 85.1 minutes

Type

video recordings

oral histories

digital media - born digital

Collection title

The Collection Donor Oral History Project

Classification

Media Arts-Film and Video

Place collected

Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted

Indiana, United States, North and Central America

Ecuador, Latin America, South America

Date

December 7, 2016

Description

The oral history consists of 2016.129.18.1a and 2016.129.18.2a: two versions (unedited, and edited) of a single digital video recording.

128.98321 GB

Dr. Charles D. Kleymeyer was interviewed as part of the NMAAHC Donor Oral History Collection. Dr. Kleymeyer is a close friend and research partner of Juan Garcia. Juan Garcia Salazar, an Afro-Ecuadorean, donated the very first item to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a carved stool of clear tropical hardwood etched with a spider web motif, symbolizing West African folklore character, Anansi the Spider. This item is featured in our Cultural Expression Gallery. Dr. Kleymeyer, who lives in the DC Metropolitan area, has often acted as interpreter for Garcia Salazar and was present when the stool was delivered to NMAAHC Director Lonnie Bunch.

In this oral history interview Dr. Charles D. Kleymeyer discusses his life and work at length, including his memories of growing up near the African American community of Lyles Station in Indiana and the extensive work he did for many years with African and Indigenous peoples in Ecuador while working for the Inter-American Foundation (IAF). It was his work with the IAF that brought him into contact with Juan Garcia Salazar and he discusses their relationship in detail.

Unedited File: Unedited digital file of oral history interview. This file is necessary in case we need to refer to the original recording for any reason and/or want to use a portion of the file that has been edited out.

Edited File: Videographer has minimized or eliminated interruptions, false starts and any unnecessary sounds. An agreed upon slate has also been added with title, date, and logo. Separate files of the same interview have been concatenated. This is the copy that will be made available to the public and/or researchers and uploaded to the website.

Topic

Activism

Africa

Communities

Folklife

Museums

Travel

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2016.129.18.1a-2a

Restrictions & Rights

© Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

Ceremonial basket adorned with cowrie shells

Created by

Unidentified

Medium

fiber and cowrie shell

Dimensions

H x W x D: 5 5/8 × 6 1/2 × 6 1/2 in. (14.3 × 16.5 × 16.5 cm)

Type

baskets

Classification

Slavery and Freedom Objects

Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

Tools and Equipment-Ceremonial Tools

Place made

Mossuril, Nampula, Mozambique, Africa

Place used

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa

Date

2015

Caption

This cowrie shell basket was created by artisans in Mossuril, Mozambique, in 2015 to hold soil from the region, which was then deposited at the site of the São José shipwreck. After a solemn ceremony on May 30, 2015, the village and tribal elder in Mossuril, Evano Nhogache, entrusted this basket to Lonnie Bunch, instructing him to place the enclosed soil as close to the wreck site as possible to symbolically reconnect those Mozambicans who were lost with their homeland. He then asked that the basket become part of the collections of the NMAAHC. On June 2, 2015, at a second memorial in Clifton, the soil was poured into the ocean near the wreck site. The slave ship São José Paquete Africa sank on December 3, 1794 off the coast of South Africa. It had left Mozambique 24 days prior bound for Maranhão, Brazil.

Description

A basket created by artisans in Mossuril, Mozambique for ceremonial transport of soil from Mozambique to the site of the São José shipwreck in Cape Town, South Africa. The round basket is in two parts, a base and lid, and is made from worked plant material. Cowrie shells placed closely together adorn and cover the outside of both the top and bottom of basket.

Topic

Africa

Craftsmanship

Folklife

Middle Passage

Ornamentation

Trans Atlantic slave trade

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2016.168ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

African Design

Book from the library of artist Loïs Mailou Jones

Written by

Trowell, Kathleen Margaret, British, 1904 - 1984

Published by

Greenwood Press, Inc., American, 1967 - 2008

Owned by

Jones, Loïs Mailou, American, 1905 - 1998

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W x D: 11 3/8 × 9 × 7/8 in. (28.9 × 22.9 × 2.2 cm)

Type

hardcover books

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Date

1970

Description

Hardcover copy of “African Design” with two book jackets. There is a clear plastic book jacket cover over the patterned book jacket. The front cover of the patterned book jacket has a color image of a decorated ’Tandu’ skin vessel and Batik dyed cloth, featured before the title page inside the book. There is a black border on the right side and bottom edge. In white printed text on the bottom border is [AFRICAN DESIGN] and in orange below this is [Margaret Trowell]. This text is printed again in the same colors on the black spine. At the bottom of the book jacket spine printed in black on a yellow background is [Praeger]. The back cover is white and has two short write-ups about other books, “Classical African Sculpture” and “Nigerian Images”. The front jacket flap describes the book and includes reviews from the “Library Journal” while the back flap has a short paragraph about the author. The hardcover binding is black and the front and back covers are blank. [Margaret Trowell] and [Praeger] are printed in gold-colored text on the lower spine along with a globe logo. [AFRICAN DESIGN] is printed in gold-colored text on a maroon background on the upper spine. The half title page has a black and white bookplate with three images of Lois Mailou Jones which reads [Lois Jones / Pierre-Noel / EX LIBRIS]. The book has a handwritten inscription. A pamphlet about Bourges Color Corporation art materials and a torn piece of paper from the Howard University Department of Art were found in this book and are available in the catalog file.

Topic

Africa

Art

Craftsmanship

Design

Folklife

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2016.26.5.33

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Untitled (Wash Day: Scrubbing the Clothes)

Created by

Hunter, Clementine, American, ca. 1886 - 1988

Subject of

Unidentified Woman or Women

Medium

oil paint on plywood

Dimensions

H x W x D (painting): 6 × 8 1/16 × 3/8 in. (15.2 × 20.5 × 1 cm)

H x W (framed): 12 × 15 9/16 in. (30.5 × 39.5 cm)

Type

oil paintings

Classification

Visual Arts

Place made

Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Date

ca. 1965

Description

This oil painting depicts a woman washing clothes on a blue washboard. Shown in profile to the viewer, she wears a yellow dress with a green apron and red hat. She stands in front of a red table with the blue washtub on its surface. The figure holds what appears to be a white piece of cloth against a blue washboard reclining in the tub. Across the table from the woman is a tree and some low bushes. The artist has signed her initials [CH] in the center right margin.

Topic

American South

Art

Domestic life

Folklife

Rural life

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Collection of Sabra Brown Martin

Object number

2017.68.3

Restrictions & Rights

© Cane River Art Corporation

Untitled (Wash Day: Pot Scene or Clothes on the Line)

Created by

Hunter, Clementine, American, ca. 1886 - 1988

Subject of

Unidentified Woman or Women

Medium

oil paint on paperboard

Dimensions

H x W x D (painting): 6 15/16 × 9 × 1/4 in. (17.6 × 22.9 × 0.6 cm)

H x W (framed): 12 15/16 × 16 1/2 in. (32.9 × 41.9 cm)

Type

oil paintings

Classification

Visual Arts

Place made

Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Date

ca. 1965

Description

This painting depicts two women washing clothes. One woman, wearing a purple dress, red hat, and white apron, stands over a blue tub on a red table. She holds a white object against a slanting blue washboard in the tub. Behind her is a second woman standing over a large black cauldron. The cauldron is placed over a fire and has a white froth on its surface. The woman standing by the cauldron hold a long narrow implement in the froth. She wears a yellow dress and cap and a green apron. There is a clothesline overhead with sheets and items of clothing pinned on it. The artist has signed her initials [CH] in the bottom right corner.

Topic

American South

Art

Domestic life

Folklife

Rural life

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Collection of Sabra Brown Martin

Object number

2017.68.4

Restrictions & Rights

© Cane River Art Corporation

Untitled (African House)

Created by

Hunter, Clementine, American, ca. 1886 - 1988

Medium

oil paint on plywood

Dimensions

H x W x D (painting): 6 × 8 1/16 × 3/8 in. (15.2 × 20.5 × 1 cm)

H x W (framed): 12 × 15 9/16 in. (30.5 × 39.5 cm)

Type

oil paintings

Classification

Visual Arts

Place made

Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Date

ca. 1965

Description

This painting depicts a small house. The house is white with a black roof, black shutters, and black timber beams. There are two central blue doors. The house sits on a patch of bare ground, surrounded by thick bushes. The artist has signed her initials in the center right margin.

Topic

American South

Architecture

Art

Folklife

Rural life

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Collection of Sabra Brown Martin

Object number

2017.68.5

Restrictions & Rights

© Cane River Art Corporation

Untitled (Church Ladies)

Created by

Hunter, Clementine, American, ca. 1886 - 1988

Subject of

Unidentified Woman or Women

Medium

oil paint on paperboard

Dimensions

H x W x D (painting): 5 7/8 × 7 3/8 × 1/4 in. (14.9 × 18.7 × 0.6 cm)

H x W (framed): 11 7/8 × 14 7/8 in. (30.2 × 37.8 cm)

Type

oil paintings

Classification

Visual Arts

Place made

Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Date

ca. 1965

Description

This painting depicts five women walking in a line down a path away from a church. The two women in front wear yellow dresses, the third wears a red dress, the fourth wears a purple dress, and the last wears a light green dress. They proceed down a hill from a white church with a black roof, passing a large tree next to the path. The artist has signed her initials in the center right margin.

Topic

American South

Art

Communities

Folklife

Religion

Rural life

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Collection of Sabra Brown Martin

Object number

2017.68.6

Restrictions & Rights

© Cane River Art Corporation

Untitled (Zinnias)

Created by

Hunter, Clementine, American, ca. 1886 - 1988

Medium

oil paint on paperboard

Dimensions

H x W: 24 × 16 in. (61 × 40.6 cm)

Type

oil paintings

Classification

Visual Arts

Place made

Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Date

ca. 1970

Description

This painting depicts a white bowl of zinnias against a bright green background. Red, white, yellow, and orange flowers are placed in a white bowl with a large handle and wide base. The bowl rests on a wide base or saucer. The artist has signed her initials [CH] in the bottom right corner.

Topic

American South

Art

Folklife

Nature

Rural life

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Collection of Sabra Brown Martin

Object number

2017.68.7

Restrictions & Rights

© Cane River Art Corporation

Untitled (Cotton Picking Scene with Overseer)

Created by

Hunter, Clementine, American, ca. 1886 - 1988

Subject of

Unidentified Man or Men

Unidentified Woman or Women

Medium

oil paint on cardboard

Dimensions

H x W x D (painting): 10 1/2 × 12 1/2 × 3/16 in. (26.7 × 31.8 × 0.5 cm)

H x W (framed): 16 1/2 × 20 in. (41.9 × 50.8 cm)

Type

oil paintings

Classification

Visual Arts

Place made

Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Date

1959

Description

This color painting depicts two individuals picking cotton, while a third individual drives a loaded cart. The image is divided into two sections. The bottom section has two women picking cotton. Standing bent at the waist, the wears long skirts and large hats with large white sacks over their shoulders. In the upper section is a mule drawn wagon. It is being driven by a man in a yellow shirt, black pants, and a black hat. He holds a long whip in one hand. The artist has signed her initials in the bottom right corner.

Topic

Agriculture

American South

Art

Folklife

Labor

Rural life

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Collection of Sabra Brown Martin

Object number

2017.68.8

Restrictions & Rights

© Cane River Art Corporation