Chief's Hat  misango mayaka
Yaka, Pende, or Suku peoples
DR Congo
20th century
Imported glass beads strung with cotton over a basketry foundation
19 x 12 x 6 inches high  (48 x 30.5 x 15 cm)

According to Christine Kreamer, the horns projecting on the sides allude "to the strength and power of the buffalo in a reference to the associated powers of chieftancy"  (1995 Crowning Achievements: African Artistry of Dressing the Head.  The Fowler Museum, UCLA; pages 100-101