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The Mbuti - a subgroup of the Pygmy tribes - live in the Ituri Rainforest since more than 3500 years, and yet, they are known since only a few decades: the magnificent art expressions in tree bark - crafted by women and mainly provided with fascinating and abstract motifs. 
Are offered here 4 of these dresses - 3 with motifs and 1 item without them.  Age:  Between the 19th and the 1st half of the 20th century. Reasonable condition, given their old age - have a look at the pictures.
As a support of these fascinating dresses, is also offered here a reference book “Art Pictural des Pygmées” / “Picturial Art of the Pygmies” (French text - 104 pages), which includes a detailed description of the tribal traditions of the Mbuti, the complex craftsmanship of these clothes, provided with countless pictures.  Limited, and currently difficult to find, this book was published by the Barbier-Mueller Museum, following a splendid exhibition in 1990. 

Dimensions of the dresses (ca.): 
37 x 73 cm.
56 x 56 cm.
100 x 43 cm.
150 x 40 cm.

Provenance: Belgian missionary clothing collection (Vercruysse coll.) - book from the Barbier-Mueller Museum.  

Hint: these dresses are beautiful when framed between 2 glass or perspex-plates ; any fold can disappear by spraying the dress with distilled water and then by ironing it at a low temperature - let the dress dry before framing it.

19th and 20th century - Reasonable condition

4 Mbuti dresses in tree bark (Ituri Rainforest - Former Zaire) + reference book “Art Pictural des Pygmées” (Pictorial Art of the Pygmies)

African & Tribal Art

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Fold out maps or plates

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African & Tribal Art

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

4 Mbuti dresses in tree bark (Ituri Rainforest - Former Zaire) + reference book “Art Pictural des Pygmées” (Pictorial Art of the Pygmies)

Popular in African & Tribal Art

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African & Tribal Art

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

4 Mbuti dresses in tree bark (Ituri Rainforest - Former Zaire) + reference book “Art Pictural des Pygmées” (Pictorial Art of the Pygmies)

Popular in African & Tribal Art

997 objects

Related collections