Tyiwara headcrest
- Medium
- Wood, cowrie shells, thread
- Dimensions
- 24 1/16 x 8 1/2 x 3 in. (61.12 x 21.59 x 7.62 cm) (including base)
Tags
Mali
About
A Tyiwara headcrest should be seen in profile to appreciate the sculptor’s visual imagination: the dynamic beauty of the design, the balance of its elements. Like the Greek chimera, the Tyiwara is a composite creature, its features drawn from the antelope, pangolin, and aardvark, a mythical animal that taught humans how to farm. When used in agricultural ceremonies, the crest is mounted on a dancer’s braided hat.
