Crown (Ade)
Yoruba
1875–1975
- Medium
- Glass beads, fabric, thread, and copper alloy
- Dimensions
- 142.9 × 50.8 × 47.7 cm (56 1/4 × 20 × 18 3/4 in.)
- Genre
- crown
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Styles
Tags
fabricthreadancestorssupernaturalyorubastring (fiber product)regaliabeading (process)femaleroyaltyspiritbirdsCrownafrican Artarts of AfricaCoastal West AfricaKingscostumecopper alloyglass beadsprotectorneedleworkingbeadwork
About
This elaborate conical crown once belonged to the king of Idowa. It refers to the inner head (ori inu) or spiritual essence of a Yoruba ruler. The faces outlined with beads establish a link to past kings, who serve as influential ancestors to the present one. The beaded veil protects onlookers from the king’s potent gaze while multiple three-dimensional birds allude to the supernatural powers of women.
