{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1644214"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1644214/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NA5366/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NA5366/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NA5366","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1644214/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1644214","accessionNumber":"T.2425:1,2-2021","objectType":"Busuuti","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Busuuti’s, also known as gomesi, became a common form of dress for women in the Buganda kingdom in Uganda from the early 20th-century. The busuuti is a floor-length wrapped dress with a square neckline and short, puffed sleeves. The dress has two buttons at the top and is tied with a sash. A buusuti can be made of up to six meters of cloth. They are typically worn with a kikooyi or khanga (types of cloth) tied underneath to ensure the fabric does not stick to the body. \n\r\nBarkcloth was a common material for busuuti’s in the 1950s, with Bown noting they were a standard style for the daytime. The Baganda people of the Buganda kingdom have been making barkcloth for centuries and it is recognized as an ancient craft of the Baganda by UNESCO. The cloth is made from the inner bark of the Mutuba tree (Ficus Natalensis), which is harvested during the wet season and then beaten to give it a soft and fine texture.  Barkcloth is historically worn by men and women in Buganda. Busuuti’s are still a popular choice for special occasions in Buganda although they are now worn in a variety of materials, with Hajat Zuliyati Bbosa noting ‘First was barkcloth gomesi, worn by our mother, then Kaki gomesi/cotton gomesi which we wore in the 1960s, then toplain in 1970s then kikoy gomesi’. \r\n","physicalDescription":"The busuuti is a floor-length wrapped dress with a square neckline and short, puffed sleeves. The dress has two buttons at the top and is tied with a sash. Unwrapped the dress has a total width of 274cm.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[{"name":{"text":"Baganda","id":"AUTH373569"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"materials":[{"text":"barkcloth","id":"x42869"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Barkcloth, thread, metal(?) buttons","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2021NA5366"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SR004","id":"THES392741"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR004","id":"THES392741"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Buusuti","id":""}],[{"text":"Sash","id":"AAT216864"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Buganda","id":"THES338201"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c.1956","earliest":"1951-01-01","latest":"1960-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"The busuuti was gifted to the wearer in 1956/7, the style and material of the busuuti indicates it was probably made about the same time"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Professor Lalage Bown","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"133","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"16/09/2021","earliest":"2021-09-16","latest":"2021-09-16"},"part":"From shoulder to hem","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"126","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"16/07/2021","earliest":"2021-07-16","latest":"2021-07-16"},"part":"Front - from top edge at bust to hem","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"35","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"16/07/2021","earliest":"2021-07-16","latest":"2021-07-16"},"part":"Sleeve length - puff sleeve","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"44","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Approx.","date":{"text":"16/07/2021","earliest":"2021-07-16","latest":"2021-07-16"},"part":"Measured flat","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"31","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"16/07/2021","earliest":"2021-07-16","latest":"2021-07-16"},"part":"Proper left front flap, edge to underarm","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"193","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"16/07/2021","earliest":"2021-07-16","latest":"2021-07-16"},"part":"Proper left side flap, from edge to underarm","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"274","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"16/07/2021","earliest":"2021-07-16","latest":"2021-07-16"},"part":"Total width across cloth at underarm point","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"235","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"16/07/2021","earliest":"2021-07-16","latest":"2021-07-16"},"part":"Sash","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"19","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"16/07/2021","earliest":"2021-07-16","latest":"2021-07-16"},"part":"Sash - in centre at narrowest point","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"16/07/2021","earliest":"2021-07-16","latest":"2021-07-16"},"part":"Sash - measured at end","note":"Measured by conservation"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Professor Lalage Bown was given this busuuti as a gift in 1956 by the wife of the Ugandan Minister Amos Sempa. Bown had organised for the Minister's wife to stay with family friends whilst in England. \n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Busuuti, dress and sash, barkcloth, Buganda, Uganda, 1956/7","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.2425:1-2021","T.2425:2-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"2425","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2021-07-16","availableToBook":false}}