Created by
Chenet, Winifred Mason, American, 1912 - 1993
Date
1948-1993
Medium
silver with metal
Dimensions
H x W x D (clasped closed): 7 1/2 × 7 1/2 × 3/16 in. (19 × 19 × 0.5 cm)
H x W x D (layed flat): 1 9/16 × 16 1/8 × 3/16 in. (4 × 41 × 0.5 cm)
Description
A silver-plate necklace designed by Winifred Mason Chenet. Thirteen silver pendants are linked by circular chain and joined together by a hook clasp. The top of each pendant has a circle attached on each horizontal edge and a piece of silver is hooked on each circle creating a scroll design. The pendant design symbolizes a Haitian drum. The top of the pendant represents the skin used on the top of a drum that is tied to the wooden body with a rope. Underneath the rope design, the drum skin is gathered and folded over itself. On the body of the drum is an upraised circular design. The bottom of the drum is represented by two stacked circles on top of each other to show how the drum narrows at the bottom to a ridged column. The back of seven of the pendants contain the designer's signature [chenet d'HAITI] with varying levels of legibility based on fading.
Place made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Cultural Place
Haiti, Caribbean, Latin America, North and Central America
Classification
Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
Adornment
Type
jewelry
Topic
African diaspora
Art
Craftsmanship
Design
Fashion
Folklife
Music
Ornamentation
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2018.4.2.1
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5a1687998-71e4-4f9a-b1de-456eff2d4267

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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