Distributed by
National Endowment for the Arts, American, founded 1965
Owned by
King, B.B., American, 1925 - 2015
Date
1990
Medium
a: silver and ribbon
b: wood and cloth
Dimensions
Diameter (a: medal with ribbon): 2 15/16 × 15 3/4 in. (7.5 × 40 cm)
H x W x D (b: box): 1 15/16 × 9 1/8 × 5 11/16 in. (5 × 23.2 × 14.5 cm)
Description
This is a National Medal of Arts (a) awarded to B.B. King, along with its presentation box (b). The medal consists of a silver pendant in the shape of a swirl with a hole in the center. The swirl creates an uneven circle with smooth polished outer edges. The inside of the swirl is textured and rough. Around the top rim of the swirl is engraved text that reads “NATIONAL MEDAL OF ARTS 1990.” On the underside of the pendant the silver is textured. On the left it is engraved with text that reads “UNTED STATES / OF / AMERICA.” On the right it is engraved with text that reads “B.B. KING.” The medal is suspended from a woven strap of red, white, blue and silver threads. The strap is flat and threaded through a bar welded to the underside of the top of the pendant. The presentation box (b) is a dark blue leather case with a white and blue silk lining.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Type
boxes (containers)
medals
Topic
Blues (Music)
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Music
Musicians
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2021.102.2ab
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5c45fd8ad-b9d5-40b3-85f3-a74289c5917a

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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