Crown, about 1920
Yorubaexpand_more
Glass beads, leather, canvas, wickerexpand_more
The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fundexpand_more 76.29
On View in Gallery 236expand_more
There’s a good reason why a Yoruba crown is always placed on the ruler’s head from behind or from the side: grave disaster could strike if the king sees inside the conical headdress, so potent is its power. For similar reasons, his subjects shouldn’t gaze upon his face, usually covered by a beaded veil to prevent such encounters. This crown is also adorned with royal birds, regarded as important messengers between the divine world and the earth.
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Details
- Title
- Crown
- Role
- Artist
- Dimension
- L.15 (crown), L.15 (fringe) in.
- Accession Number
- 76.29
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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