The sign of the divine king : Yoruba bead-embroidered crowns with veil and bird decorations

Object Details

Author

Thompson, Robert Farris

Smithsonian Libraries African Art Index Project DSI

Illustrations.

This essay was also published in slightly different version in African arts (Los Angeles) 3 (3) 1970, pages 8-17, 74-80.

Discussion of the symbolism and iconography of birds on Yoruba beaded crowns and iron staffs, suggesting connections between kingship, divination, and medicine. Points out the bird imagery on the Tada and Benin bronzes and in Cuban-Yoruba iconography. Also includes discussion of Ijebu metal crowns and frontal face imagery in Yoruba art.

1972

Call number

N7398 .A248

Type

Articles

Smithsonian Libraries

Topic

Yoruba beaded crowns

Birds in African art

Yoruba symbolism

Beadwork, Yoruba

Bead embroidery, Yoruba

Tada bronzes

Ijebu crowns

Record ID

siris_sil_693225

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0