Museum object · Clothing - Costume
Black bow tie from the travel wardrobe trunk used by Cab Calloway
mid 20th-late 20th century
United States, North and Central America
Source catalog description
This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.
A black, one size fits all bow tie from the travel wardrobe trunk used by Cab Calloway. The satin, pre-tied, butterfly bow tie features an adjustable neck strap that fastens at the back of the neck. The bow tie has been stitched to the band at the center. The bow tie has a small piece of matching black fabric that wraps around the bow at the center and is stitched closed at the back, forming the center knot. Sewn to the interior of the proper right side of the neck strap is a white satin ribbon with printed black text that reads [ADJUSTABLE ? 14 14 ½ ? / RN 18628]. Sewn to each end of the neck band is a metal hook and eye and there is a metal safety pin attached to the band near the center.
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Sources & collection details
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗
Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13
Catalog reference: A2015.273.1.1.27
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