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Luvale. <em>Likishi Dance Costume Leggings</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)
Luvale. Likishi Dance Costume Leggings, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)
Luvale. <em>Likishi Dance Costume Leggings</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. Likishi Dance Costume Leggings, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. <em>Likishi Dance Costume Leggings</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_front_installation_edited_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. Likishi Dance Costume Leggings, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_front_installation_edited_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. <em>Likishi Dance Costume Leggings</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_front_installation_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. Likishi Dance Costume Leggings, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_front_installation_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. <em>Likishi Dance Costume Leggings</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.36.549_print_threequarter1_bw.jpg)

Luvale. Likishi Dance Costume Leggings, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.36.549_print_threequarter1_bw.jpg)

Luvale. <em>Likishi Dance Costume Leggings</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_acetate_bw.jpg)

Luvale. Likishi Dance Costume Leggings, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_acetate_bw.jpg)

Luvale. <em>Likishi Dance Costume Leggings</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.36.549_print_threequarter2_bw.jpg)

Luvale. Likishi Dance Costume Leggings, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.36.549_print_threequarter2_bw.jpg)

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Likishi Dance Costume Leggings

Arts of Africa

This complete dance costume shows how masks are normally one part of a larger ensemble. The mask is sewn directly onto the costume of looped bark and fiber, which fits tightly over the body of the dancer. Seedpod rattles and metal bells added a musical aspect to the performance.

Although they are danced by Luvale men, mwana pwevo masks depict women. In order to own and perform with a mask, a man had to symbolically marry it by paying the carver a copper ring as a bride price. In so doing, the dancer made a commitment to honor and care for the spirit represented by the mask. In return, the dancer was able to earn his livelihood performing at local festivals.
This text refers to these objects: 36.549; 36.548; 36.550a-b; 36.551a-b; 36.552; 36.553; 36.554
CULTURE Luvale
MEDIUM Bark, rope
  • Place Made: Zambia
    • DATES late 19th or early 20th century
    DIMENSIONS 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
    ACCESSION NUMBER 36.549
    CREDIT LINE Museum Collection Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Brown and tan bark rope trousers worn by dancer as part of a Pwo dance costume. See 36.548 Condition: Worn.
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Luvale. Likishi Dance Costume Leggings, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
    You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
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    Luvale. <em>Likishi Dance Costume Leggings</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Bark, rope, 41 x 25 1/4 in. (104.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.549. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)

    TAGS

    Lovale
    Bark, rope
    patterned
    head dress
    skirt
    African
    bark
    cloth
    figure
    dance
    Mwana Pwo

    TAGS

    Lovale
    Bark, rope
    patterned
    head dress
    skirt
    African
    bark
    cloth
    figure
    dance
    Mwana Pwo

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