Beaded handbag with geometric design in dark brown, teal, fuchsia and gold from Mae's Millinery Shop. The bag is oblong with teal looped beaded fringe hanging along the bottom and a short brown beaded handle attached by plastic loops to the top opening.…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2016.48.55
Beaded black purse featuring a repeating scalloped pattern from Mae's Millinery Shop. It is cylindrical in shape with a lid that lifts off the top while being attached by a long black cord strap. Two holes in the top of the lid allow it to slide up the…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2016.48.40.2
A beaded blue chiffon fabric fragment. The fragment is sheer and has raw edges. The overall design is a triangular shape with a lattice pattern that has scalloped edges, made from clear glass rhinestones with metal settings. Glass seed beads are used to…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2007.3.912
Beaded body jewelry from “Jewelry-as-Clothing” collection by Bill Smith for Richelieu. The collar and the hemline of the top are comprised of two separate brass chains with several waist-length strings of black beads connecting the two, covering the front…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2025.7.14
This is a black beaded evening bag belonging to Etta Moten Barnett. The bag is a rectangular clutch with a flap opening. The flap closes with a metal snap closure on the interior of the flap. The exterior of the bag is covered in tiny black beads sewn into…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog A2022.13.1.64.1
Clear and silver beaded clutch purse worn by Ophelia DeVore. The purse is rectangular and made from an off-white synthetic satin that is completely covered in rows of white and silver faceted beads. The beads are placed so that there are thin silver…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2011.25.8
A formal, hand-beaded coat in plum silk satin with cream silk satin lining, designed and made by Ann Lowe. The long, dark plum colored silk coat has 3/4 length sleeves and an A-line cut. The sleeve cuffs, center front, and neckline is beaded in a floral…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2019.15
Pale peach faux pearl and silver rhinestone collar from Mae's Millinery Shop. The beads and rhinestones are attached to a peach satin ground fabric with a stylized floral bud design along the bottom edge. The facing side is completely covered in beading so…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2016.48.51.1
A sleeveless beaded cream evening gown with a sweetheart neckline. The bust, straps, and bottom portion of the dress are embellished with glass bugle beads, sequins, and rhinestones. The straps and the bust of the dress are made of synthetic cream net.…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2007.3.666
This gold silk floral print sheath dress was worn by Dinah Washington. The dress has a natural waistline with no seam at the bodice. Pleats are sewn in the bodice and front waist to create a fitted silhouette. The gold silk satin is overlaid with cream…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2011.87.5
A crème-colored silk gown designed by Zelda Wynn for Eartha Kitt. The one shoulder, floor-length silk gown features extensively beaded and multi-colored birds of paradise throughout. It was made with a combination of machine and hand-stitching. The bodice…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2007.3.163
Beaded jacket (.1) and black pants (.2) by Stephen Burrows. The jacket (.1) is collarless with decorative lapels, full-length straight sleeves, and a hemline at the natural waist with a short slit at the center back. It is covered all over in glass bugle…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2015.141.38.1-.2
A v-neck patchwork tunic designed by Henry Leonard and worn by Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole. The front of the tunic is made from a variety of rectangular strips of upholstery weight fabrics in multiple colors. Both of the front yokes are made from a…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCatalog 2015.209.2
