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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

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.

A black, one size fits all bow tie from the travel wardrobe trunk used by Cab Calloway. The solid matte black, self-tying, butterfly style bow tie features a neck band that can be adjusted at the back of the neck. Sewn to the interior of the proper right side of the neck strap is a black ribbon with embroidered white text and lines that denotes the neck band lengths. The strap is adjustable from 13 ¾ inches to 16 inches. Sewn to the proper left end of the ribbon is a metal hook and a strap slider that has been threaded through the proper left side of the band used to adjust the neck band length. The tie has flat ends and curves in the middle that form the bow when tied. Stamped text on the hook reads [PAT PEND.].

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: A2015.273.1.1.28

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