Dinka. <em>Woman's vest (alual)</em>, 20th century. Glass beads, fiber, fabric, wire, mounted: 30 1/2 × 20 × 4 1/2 in. (77.5 × 50.8 × 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Carll H. de Silver Fund, 1997.1.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1997.1.3_print_bw.jpg)

Dinka. Woman's vest (alual), 20th century. Glass beads, fiber, fabric, wire, mounted: 30 1/2 × 20 × 4 1/2 in. (77.5 × 50.8 × 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Carll H. de Silver Fund, 1997.1.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1997.1.3_print_bw.jpg)

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Tell me more.

Both Dinka men and women wear forms of beaded corsets such as these. While men's corsets are structured with strong wires that hug the body tightly, women's corsets are more ample and hang from the neck like a large necklace. Some scholars suggest that these ornaments are "extensions" of formerly existing belts for men and necklaces for women. The highly prized imported materials used to make this corset, such as glass beads and wire make the garment a marker of wealth and status. The corset can also be an indicator of one's advancement through age grades, availability for marriage, and bride price.

This is BEAUTIFUL. Can you tell me more about it?

Of course! Among the Dinka of South Sudan both men and women have worn corsets historically, although the practice is not as ubiquitous today.

Men's corsets are more structured and close fitting, like the Victorian-era corset we think of typically. However, women's corsets were more ample, hanging from the neck like a large necklace.

Things like bead color, materials, and the construction of the garment can communicate characteristics of the wearer, such as age, wealth, and ethnic affiliation.

Imported materials, especially beads and metals, were prized commodities and were markers of wealth and status for the Dinka.

Because the Dinka are herders, portable possessions are very important and they have historically focused on adorning the human form as the primary method of artistic expression.

Why is this called a corset?

The use of the word corset, in the English description of this object, is meant to pair this "Alual" with its male counterpart, "Manlual" which is much more like what we think of as a corset.

Both adornments are worn by Dinka people as an indicator of adulthood.

Woman's vest (alual)

Arts of Africa

CULTURE Dinka

MEDIUM Glass beads, fiber, fabric, wire

Place Made: South Sudan

DATES 20th century

DIMENSIONS mounted: 30 1/2 × 20 × 4 1/2 in. (77.5 × 50.8 × 11.4 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa

ACCESSION NUMBER 1997.1.3

CREDIT LINE Carll H. de Silver Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Women's corset with blue beaded neck band that is also made of cloth-covered wire, loops, and tires to hold it in place; two elongated, rectangular, cloth-covered, wire structures worn down the middle of the front and back torso, beaded across with green, black, blue, and white; and strands of light blue beads that drape from the shoulders , connect to the rectangular structures, and cover front and back of torso. Condition: Good, ties on collar worn

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Dinka. Woman's vest (alual), 20th century. Glass beads, fiber, fabric, wire, mounted: 30 1/2 × 20 × 4 1/2 in. (77.5 × 50.8 × 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Carll H. de Silver Fund, 1997.1.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1997.1.3_print_bw.jpg)

IMAGE overall, CUR.1997.1.3_print_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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