Wax-print Cloth (Panya) Commemorating the Coronation of Empress Catherine Bokassa
Central African
Description
Subject Matter:
This is a wax-print (panya) created by a textile maker (name unrecorded) in the former Central African Empire (in what is now the Central African Republic). It depicts an image of Jean-Bédel Bokassa, who declared himself emperor on December 4. 1976 of the short-lived Central African Empire, along with his wife, Catherine Martine Denguiadé (also known as Catherine Bokassa, b.1949). The cloth celebrates the coronation of the Bokassa and Denguiadé as emperor and empress of the CAE and includes text that reads (translated to English): "Long live his Imperial Majesty Bokassa 1st emperor of 'CentAfrique' and Empress Cathérine Bokassa." A repeated pattern printed across the textile presents a portrait of the emperor and empress in coronation regalia surrounded by the above phrase, against the repeated backdrop motif of small black stars, the imperial cypher 'B,' and a larger yellow star and eagle with wings outspread against a yellow sun, the latter of which is the imperial emblem also depicted at the top of the emperor's crown (and which was inspired by the imperial crown of Napoleon). The hexagonal lozenge pattern depicted on the empress's dress is repeated in pink and white across the entire textile. This pattern references the pink and gold lamé dress decorated with 780,000 seed pearls she wore for her coronation: it was designed by the French company Lanvin and purportedly cost approximately $72,000, with the entire coronation ceremony costing over $20 million dollars. The perceived extravagance, corruption, and repression associated with Bokassa's regime led to his overthrow in 1979. This portion of cloth was purchased by the previous owner in CEA in 1979 shortly before the coup d'etat.
Physical Description:
A large cloth printed with a large black and white portrait of a woman and a man in regal dress. The background is comprised stripes of elongated red and white hexagons, interspersed with yellow "B" medallions and stars.
Usage Rights:
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