About this artwork
Brilliantly colorful, Yoruba crowns and hats feature strands of tiny glass beads sewn on a cloth base. These glass beads normally distinguish worshippers of different orisa, or deities: white beads are worn by Obatala worshipers, black and red by Esu worshipers, red and white by Sango, green by Ifa, and so on. The presence of a full spectrum of colors on royal crowns thus visibly demonstrates that in the person of the Oba, or king, all religious groups are united. The makers of orikobofo are liberated from rigid conventions and are able to explore new designs, color combinations, and forms.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Culture
- Yoruba
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Title
- Royal Cap (Orikogbofo)
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Place
- Nigeria (Object made in)
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Date
- Made 1901–2000
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Medium
- Glass, cloth, and string
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Dimensions
- 16.5 × 20.3 × 21 cm (6 1/2 × 8 × 8 1/4 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Donald Young and Shirley Weese Young
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Reference Number
- 2015.303
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/229893/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.