RIAA Diamond awarded to Usher Raymond for "Confessions" album: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This RIAA Diamond award for the album "Confessions" is composed of two separate elements. The top element of the award consists of a clear glass trapezoidal shaped pillar. Etched into the underside is “C51535”. A ‘V’ shape is cut through the wider two side faces at the top. On both sides the points are extended into the glass surface and does not extend through the pillar. Atop the pillar is a sterling silver decagon shaped ring with tabs protruding either side to straddle the groove cut into the pillar. There are two stamps on either tab all within circles that read ”PWY”and “USA” on one side and “RIAA” and “925." on the other. Set within the silver ring is a cut glass diamond. The base is made from a black colored resin. It is trapezoidal in shape, wider at the base and tapering upwards. On one large side face is a metal plaque with black background and text in silver colored engraving that reads "DIAMOND AWARD/PRESENTED TO/USHER RAYMOND/IN RECOGNITION OF/"CONFESSIONS"/ON/RCA/JIVE LABEL GROUP/CERTIFIED BY/THE RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATON OF AMERICA/OVER 10 MILLION U.S. SALES." Atop the base is a shallow rectangular indentation in which the top element sits. This indentation is lined with a black Ultra Suede like material.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 2008
• Issued by: Recording Industry Association of America, American, founded 1952
• Received by: Usher, American, born 1978
• Type: trophies (prizes)
• Medium: glass , sterling silver , resin
• Dimensions: H x W x D: 15 3/4 × 6 5/16 × 4 7/16 in. (40 × 16 × 11.3 cm)
• Place collected: United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Rhythm and blues (Music)
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2018.95
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Usher
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Recording Industry Association of America Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.