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Museum object · Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

Beaded body jewelry by Bill Smith

1969

Smithsonian NMAAHC collection

COLLECTION RECORDImage not availableExplore the catalog description and source record.
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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.

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 and most of the back. The collar chain on the back has a J-hook clasp. Hanging along the hemline are several black tassels with brass heads. The piece has been called the “Planet Hopper” and “Moon Lighting Curved Wrap.”

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2025.7.14

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