NMAAHC Collections Search

Wooden hat stand from Mae's Millinery Shop

Created by: Unidentified
Owned by: Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
Subject of: Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994

Medium: paint on wood
Dimensions: H x W x D (ab): 8 × 7 5/16 × 7 5/16 in. (20.3 × 18.6 × 18.6 cm); H x W x D (a): 6 × 5 7/8 × 5 3/4 in. (15.2 × 14.9 × 14.6 cm); H x W x D (b): 3 5/8 × 7 5/16 × 7 5/16 in. (9.2 × 18.6 × 18.6 cm)

Type: hat stands

Place collected: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1941-1994

Description: A wooden hat stand base (a) and form (b) painted white. The base is circular with one groove carved into the top of the base. A turned wooden dowel is screwed into the center of the base. The form is circular and tapers in toward the bottom where it attaches to the stand via a hole in the center of the underside.

Topic: African American; Business; Ornamentation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Mae Reeves and her children, Donna Limerick and William Mincey, Jr.

Object number: 2010.6.129ab

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
Classification: Tools and Equipment-Occupational
Exhibition: Power of Place
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 051

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Glass oil lamp from the home of Robert Smalls

Created by: Unidentified
Owned by: Smalls, Robert, American, 1839 - 1915

Medium: glass, metal
Dimensions: H x W x D: 25 × 10 × 10 in., 9 lb. (63.5 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm, 4.1 kg)

Type: lamps (lighting device components)

Place used: Beaufort, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America

Date: 19th century

Description: This oil lamp has been converted from oil to electric. It has a hand-painted base that is white with pink flowers. There is a matching lamp with hand-painted glass shade and a clear glass chimney.

Topic: African American; American South; Domestic life; Ornamentation; Reconstruction (United States History, 1865-1877)

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2010.28.10a-e

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Exhibition: Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Artificial pink flowers from Mae's Millinery Shop

Manufactured by: Unidentified
Owned by: Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
Subject of: Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994

Medium: paper, plastic, wire, and cardboard
Dimensions: H x W x D: 2 1/2 x 28 3/4 x 6 1/4 in. (6.4 x 73 x 15.9 cm)

Type: accessories

Place collected: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1941-1994

Description: Artificial pink paper flowers on green plastic stems with coiled paper-wrapped wire pieces coming off the stems. The flowers are tied with string to the bottom of the box. White stickers wrapped around the stems of the artificial flowers read "MADE IN CHINA".

Topic: African American; Business; Fashion; Ornamentation; Women

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Donna Limerick

Object number: 2016.48.105

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
Classification: Tools and Equipment-Crafting-Artistic-Image-making
Exhibition: Power of Place
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 051

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Gold metal scrollwork jewelry box from Mae's Millinery Shop

Created by: Unidentified
Owned by: Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
Subject of: Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994

Medium: metal, glass, and velvet
Dimensions: H x W x D: 3 5/16 x 5 3/4 x 7 in. (8.4 x 14.6 x 17.8 cm)

Type: boxes (containers)

Place collected: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1941-1994

Description: Gold-colored metal oval jewelry box with open scrolled design around the sides and a clear glass top. The box sits on four metal feet. The interior and exterior sides of the bottom are faced in gold velvet.

Topic: African American; Business; Ornamentation; Women

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Donna Limerick

Object number: 2016.48.22

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
Classification: Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Exhibition: Power of Place
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 051

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Oval mirrored tray with gold metal frame from Mae's Millinery Shop

Manufactured by: Unidentified
Owned by: Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
Subject of: Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994

Medium: glass and metal
Dimensions: H x W x D: 5/8 x 15 3/4 x 10 5/8 in. (1.6 x 40 x 27 cm)

Type: trays

Place collected: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1941-1994

Description: Oval-shaped mirrored tray with a metal frame from Mae's Millinery Shop. Metal handles are broken off on each end.

Topic: African American; Business; Ornamentation; Women

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Donna Limerick

Object number: 2016.48.23

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
Classification: Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Glass stemware with gold decoration from Mae's Millinery Shop

Created by: Unidentified
Owned by: Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
Subject of: Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994

Medium: glass and metal
Dimensions: H x W x D: 5 11/16 x 2 9/16 x 2 9/16 in. (14.4 x 6.5 x 6.5 cm)

Type: stemware

Place collected: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1941-1994

Description: Glass stemware with gold decoration at rim of bowl and at base of stem.

Topic: African American; Business; Cooking and dining; Ornamentation; Women

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Donna Limerick

Object number: 2016.48.30.1

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
Classification: Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Exhibition: Power of Place
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 051

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Glass stemware with gold decoration from Mae's Millinery Shop

Created by: Unidentified
Owned by: Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
Subject of: Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994

Medium: glass and metal
Dimensions: H x W x D: 5 11/16 x 2 9/16 x 2 9/16 in. (14.4 x 6.5 x 6.5 cm)

Type: stemware

Place collected: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1941-1994

Description: Glass stemware with gold decoration at rim of bowl and at base of glass.

Topic: African American; Business; Cooking and dining; Ornamentation; Women

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Donna Limerick

Object number: 2016.48.30.2

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
Classification: Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Glass stemware with floral etching from Mae's Millinery Shop

Manufactured by: Unidentified
Owned by: Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
Subject of: Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994

Medium: glass
Dimensions: H x W x D: 4 5/8 x 3 13/16 x 3 13/16 in. (11.7 x 9.7 x 9.7 cm)

Type: stemware

Place collected: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1941-1994

Description: Glass stemware with floral vine design etched on the side of the bowl.

Topic: African American; Business; Cooking and dining; Ornamentation; Women

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Donna Limerick

Object number: 2016.48.36.1

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
Classification: Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Glass stemware with floral etching from Mae's Millinery Shop

Manufactured by: Unidentified
Owned by: Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
Subject of: Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994

Medium: glass
Dimensions: H x W x D: 4 5/8 x 3 13/16 x 3 13/16 in. (11.7 x 9.7 x 9.7 cm)

Type: stemware

Place collected: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1941-1994

Description: Glass stemware with floral vine design etched on the side of the bowl.

Topic: African American; Business; Cooking and dining; Ornamentation; Women

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Donna Limerick

Object number: 2016.48.36.2

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
Classification: Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Porcelain hatpin holder from Mae's Millinery Shop

Created by: Unidentified
Owned by: Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
Subject of: Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994

Medium: paint on porcelain
Dimensions: H x W x D: 4 7/8 x 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 in. (12.4 x 7 x 7 cm)

Type: holders

Place collected: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1941-1994

Description: Porcelain bud vase used as a hatpin holder by Mae Reeves. The vase is cylindrical with a wide base. The top of the vase has ten small holes surrounding one large center hole. Pink and purple floral sprays are painted around the sides and on the base.

Topic: African American; Business; Ornamentation; Women

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Donna Limerick

Object number: 2016.48.94.1

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
Classification: Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Exhibition: Power of Place
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 051

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Pair of tété négresse style gold earrings with yellow stones

Created by: Louis Fritz, Guadeloupean, founded 1982

Medium: metal
Dimensions: H x W x D (each): 1 3/8 × 1 × 7/8 in. (3.5 × 2.5 × 2.2 cm)

Type: earrings

Place made: Pointe-à-Pitre, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe, Caribbean, Latin America, North and Central America

Date: 1990s

Description: A pair of tété négresse style gold-colored earrings with fish hook clasps. Each earring is formed with four (4) consecutive circular layers that form a convex shape with the innermost layer being the pinnacle. This center layer is made from a single gold-colored metal bead that has a raised center nipple surrounded by a rounded cone with engraved stripes. The center bead is soldered to a second layer of five (5) gold-colored metal flower beads that have hollow centers with a single stamen protruding from the center. The layer is in turn soldered to the third layer, comprised of nine (9) of these same flower beads. The third layer is soldered to the fourth and outermost layer made from a ring of gold-colored metal resembling a ball chain, but with the back of this piece being flat. There is one rounded ball section protruding from the outermost layer with the looped portion of the clasp extending from it and attaching to a hook at the bottom center back.

Topic: African American; African diaspora; Beauty culture; Clothing and dress; Design; Fashion; Ornamentation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2015.32ab

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Adornment
Exhibition: Cultural Expressions
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Modern Geometric Design

Book from the library of artist Loïs Mailou Jones

Written by: Lorch, Adolf, German American, 1883 - 1971
Published by: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., American, founded 1949
Distributed by: Ward Lock & Co. Ltd., British, founded 1854
Owned by: Jones, Loïs Mailou, American, 1905 - 1998

Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W x D: 11 5/16 × 8 3/4 × 9/16 in. (28.7 × 22.2 × 1.5 cm)

Type: hardcover books

Date: 1971

Description: Hardcover copy of “Modern Geometric Design” with seventy-nine (79) pages. The cover has a green, black, white, and grey design. The upper right and bottom left corners have multicolored geometric patterns in a circular design. In black printed text on a green background is [MODERN / GEOMETRIC / DESIGN] in the center of the front cover. The text repeats in separate columns to the edge of the cover with [MODERN] AND [DESIGN] in white and [GEOM / TRIC] in green. A vertical grey column on the right has white text [by Adolf Lorch]. The title and author are in black on the center spine. The publisher [STERLING] is printed in green on the bottom spine. The back cover has geometric circular designs and multicolored sections like the front cover. The center of the back cover has black text describing the book which begins [Good design is simple and attractive.]. The first blank 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.

Topic: African American; Art; Design; Graphic design; Ornamentation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2016.26.5.23

Restrictions & Rights: © 1971 Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. Permission required for use.

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

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

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 American; 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

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
Exhibition: Cultural Expressions
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Wrought iron gate created by Philip Simmons

Created by: Simmons, Philip, American, 1912 - 2009

Medium: iron alloy
Dimensions: 79 1/2 × 29 × 4 in. (201.9 × 73.7 × 10.2 cm); 2008.11.1ab: 153 lb. (69.4 kg); 2008.11.1a: 77 lb. (34.9 kg); 2008.11.1b: 76 lb. (34.5 kg)

Type: gates

Place made: Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Place used: Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1970s

Description: A wrought iron metalwork gate created by the blacksmith and artist Philip Simmons. The gate has two halves, one with a female latch with an inverted L-shaped vertical slide lock. The other has the male latch with a decorative hook that slides up and down on two bolts. Each door of the gate is primarily composed of seven evenly spaced vertical bars. Halfway up each gate is an open section with curving French scroll work positioned horizontally. Similar scroll work is present as the top decoration of the gate. The gate doors are taller at their center than on their hinge side.

Topic: African American; Art; Craftsmanship; Ornamentation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2008.11.1ab

Restrictions & Rights: © Phillip Simmons Estate

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Souvenir spoon depicting a caricature of a boy and an alligator

Created by: Unidentified

Medium: sterling silver
Dimensions: 4 1/4 x 7/8 x 1/4 in. (10.8 x 2.2 x 0.6 cm)

Type: spoons

Date: ca. 1900-1930s

Description: A souvenir spoon from Florida. The raised design on the bowl features a flamingo standing next to a tree on a shoreline with the text [FLORIDA]. The design on the front of the handle features a caricature of a boy's face and an alligator, its tail wrapped around the boy's head. The back of the handle features the back of the boy’s head and three palm trees. Raised lettering on the handle, next to a small four-leaf clover, reads [STERLING · THOMAS TUGBY ·]

Topic: African American; Caricature and cartoons; Cooking and dining; Ornamentation; Stereotypes

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: 2007.7.39

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
Classification: Tools and Equipment-Culinary
Exhibition: Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Teapot made by Peter Bentzon

Created by: Bentzon, Peter, American, ca. 1783 - after 1850

Medium: silver and wood
Dimensions: H x W: 7 x 12 x 5 in. (17.8 x 30.5 x 12.7 cm)

Type: teapots

Place made: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: ca. 1817-1829

Description: The silver teapot has an oval vase-shape on a spreading pedestal foot, with curved spout capped by an incised patera and wooden leaf-capped scroll handle, and hinged domed cover with acorn finial. The scripted monogram "MC" has been engraved on the side and the name "Rebecca Dawson" has been engraved along the bottom rim.

Topic: African American; African diaspora; Craftsmanship; Free communities of color; Ornamentation; United States--History--1815-1861

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2010.14

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Slavery and Freedom Objects; Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
Exhibition: Slavery and Freedom
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Anthracite coal heart-shaped pendant attributed to C. Edgar Patience

Created by: C. Edgar Patience, American, 1906 - 1972
Designed by: Patience, Harry Brazier, American, 1877 - 1926

Medium: anthracite, pyrite, and metal
Dimensions: H x W x D: 3/16 × 1 × 1 1/4 in. (0.5 × 2.5 × 3.1 cm)

Type: pendants (jewelry)

Place collected: Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1969

Description: This heart-shaped pendant carved from anthracite coal is attributed to C. Edgar Patience from a design by his father Harry Brazier Patience. A design of inlaid pyrite of a circle with four (4) small leaves, two on each side of the circle, is placed on the front of the pendant. The reverse of the pendant is plain with the numbers "1969" engraved across it. A length of wire is attached around the sides of the pendant, coming to a loop at the center top so the pendant can be attached to a necklace.

Topic: African American; Art; Beauty culture; Craftsmanship; Folklife; Ornamentation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Dr. Juanita Patience Moss and descendants

Object number: 2016.70.2

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Adornment
Exhibition: A Century in the Making
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse, C X06

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

"Modern Cuff" by Art Smith

Created by: Smith, Art, American, 1917 - 1982

Medium: copper and brass (alloy)
Dimensions: 2 5/8 × 2 5/8 × 4 in. (6.7 × 6.7 × 10.2 cm)

Type: bracelets (jewelry)

Place made: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date: ca. 1948

Description: A copper and brass "Modern Cuff" bracelet by Art Smith.The bracelet consists of curved pieces of copper with six (6) brass cylindrical pieces that wrap around and interlock to the pieces of copper. A small inscription reading: [Art Smith] is on inside copper portion of the bracelet.

Topic: African American; Art; Craftsmanship; Design; Fashion; Ornamentation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2014.322

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
Exhibition: Cultural Expressions
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Ceramic plate from Wormley & Son catering service

Created by: Greenwood China, founded 1861
Used by: Wormley & Son, American, 1888 - 1903
Subject of: Wormley's Hotel, American, 1871 - 1897

Medium: ceramic
Dimensions: Depth x Diameter: 1 3/16 × 9 in. (3 × 22.8 cm)

Type: dinner plates

Place made: Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America
Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1888 - 1903

Description: A white ceramic dinner plate with a blue printed design around the border. The design is a repeating motif of birds, leaves and curving tendrils. On the verso, the plate is stamped with the business name of "WORMLEY & SON", the name of the catering business owned and operated by James Wormley and his sons in the late 19th century in Washington, DC. The plate also is stamped with the maker's mark “GREENWOOD CHINA, Trenton, N.J.", a style of stamp that Greenwood China started using in 1886.

Topic: African American; Business; Cooking and dining; Local and regional; Ornamentation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Gift of Mavis Wormley Davis Family

Object number: 2015.107

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
On View: Smithsonian Castle (1000 Jefferson Dr. NW), The Commons, Room 162

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Prayer Rug

Manufactured by: Unidentified
Owned by: Imam Mohammed, Warith Deen, American, 1933 - 2008

Medium: yarn, thread, cloth, plastic, metal, and water
Dimensions: H x W x D (with fringe): 47 1/4 × 25 7/8 × 3/16 in. (120 × 65.7 × 0.5 cm); H x W x D (without fringe): 40 3/4 × 25 7/8 × 3/16 in. (103.5 × 65.7 × 0.5 cm)

Place made: Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, Europe

Date: 1980s

Description: The prayer rug is a low-pile carpet with a primarily gray-blue background with black and white design details. The design featured in the top third of the rug is the image of an architectural dome with a small floral spire at the top. Below the dome is a geometric pattern running horizontally across the rug. Below the geometric pattern in the lower two-thirds of the rug is a stylized architectural interior with geometric columns on either side of the space. At the top of the columns is a stylized arch of floral and scalloped patterns. At the top of the arch, attached to the rug, is a white plastic compass. The compass is a Qibla directional compass. Below the compass needle, at the bottom, is the manufacturer information [HILAL/Tel. 069-28 77 69/Praying carpets/W.-Germany]. Below the compass, in the center, is a floral motif. Surrounding the edges of the rug is a border with a floral pattern. At the top and bottom of the rug is white fringe.

Topic: African American; Identity; Men; Ornamentation; Religion; Religious groups

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Laila Muhammad, Daughter of Imam W. Deen Mohammed

Object number: 2015.133.1

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Religious and Sacred Objects

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Wooden hat stand from Mae's Millinery Shop

Glass oil lamp from the home of Robert Smalls

Artificial pink flowers from Mae's Millinery Shop

Gold metal scrollwork jewelry box from Mae's Millinery Shop

Oval mirrored tray with gold metal frame from Mae's Millinery Shop

Glass stemware with gold decoration from Mae's Millinery Shop

Glass stemware with gold decoration from Mae's Millinery Shop

Glass stemware with floral etching from Mae's Millinery Shop

Glass stemware with floral etching from Mae's Millinery Shop

Porcelain hatpin holder from Mae's Millinery Shop

Pair of tété négresse style gold earrings with yellow stones

Modern Geometric Design

Boat seat with spider web design from Ecuador

Wrought iron gate created by Philip Simmons

Souvenir spoon depicting a caricature of a boy and an alligator

Teapot made by Peter Bentzon

Anthracite coal heart-shaped pendant attributed to C. Edgar Patience

"Modern Cuff" by Art Smith

Ceramic plate from Wormley & Son catering service

Prayer Rug

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