YORUBA Beaded CEREMONIAL PANEL with Cyprea Cowrie Shells; Antique Ethnographic

Description

Antique 1920s Ethnographic YORUBA TRIBE; 36.3/4"L x 4"W;
Fabulously Hand Beaded AFRICAN CEREMONIAL PANEL with Cyprea Cowrie Shells
Antique Beaded Belt, Old Trade Beads, antique beaded sash, cowry shell embellishments, european seed beads, trade cloth, trade beads, cowry shell, glass seed beads, cowrie shell, ethnographic art panel, beaded, Oduduwa
Older Yoruba Nigerian Ceremonial Trade Glass Seed Beaded Panel/Sash/Belt outlined with Cyprea Cowrie shells; 36 ¾” long by 4" wide
This is a fabulous, symbolic and colorful older Yoruba Nigerian Ceremonial Trade Glass Seed Beaded Panel/Sash/Belt outlined with Cyprea Cowrie shells. It is believed that the two depicted abstract faces represent the first legendary Yoruba Ruler, Oduduwa, considered a “diety”; or could also possibly depict past royal ancestors who were believed to protect all of the royal lineage of the tribe. There are three symbolic fetishes on the panel, including a beaded tortoise and two birds below the faces of the dieties. In Yoruba mythology, the tortoise Ijapa was a trickster, whose exploits were a subject of a series of tales. The triangles in the headdresses are symbols believed to represent the sacred qualities of the ancestors. The two black beaded birds with green wings represent the mystical powers of the elder females of the tribe, the power of medicine, divination and witchcraft. In the case of this type of regalia; it is the “male tribesmen” who meticulously make the beaded garments for the hierarchy, including their powerful Yoruba Kings, priests and diviners of the tribe to be worn during important ceremonies. The Yoruba people believe the beadwork is a provenance of life of the divine. The kings and priests are those of the tribe considered “royalty” and thought to have supernatural intermediary insights between the supernatural and physical planes with the God Orisha. The interplay of reptilian forms, turtles, birds, ancestral faces, in conjunction with the bright colors in the beadwork and other symbolic geometric designs outline the rich tribal symbolic ancestry and workmanship showcased in this beautiful “artform” offered today.
The Yoruba were Nomads who dominated the area west of the Niger River where they established city states headed by a leader referred to as an “Oba”, who was supported by a council of chiefs. The Yoruba Empire originated during the first millennium B.C.E. For centuries, Yoruba land’s economy was based on agriculture, arts and “trade”, evidenced by the beautiful glass beaded artwork on this stunning “diviner’s panel”. These distinctive colorful panels were hand crafted of fabric with thousands of miniature glass seed beads meticulously hand sewn into the diviner’s panel with each diversified color symbolizing various deities. The glass seed beads appear to be old trade beads, possibly European in origin. The beads number in the thousands and are colored black, white, cobalt, light blue, various shades of bright orange, various shades of green, black, and reds. The small beads of glass are of various shapes; no two alike; as the truly older ones were not all the same cut, nor the exact same shade of color. This is an excellent example of older Yoruba Beadwork. The beads are sewn on what appears to be a padded vegetal or woolen fiber material; the fabric on the obverse is a light mint color with white cross motifs (could possibly be a trade cloth); the edges of the fabric on the back is soiled due to age and use. There are 41 old cowrie shells around the edges, each measuring circa 1” x 5/8”; some larger. Cowry Shells were abundant in the tropics and when alive lived near coral reefs and fed on algae. This beautiful heirloom measures c. 36 ¾” long by 4" wide x 1/2” deep at the Cowry shell embellishments with no beads missing that I can see. The belt tapers at the bottom from 4" to 3 ½” to 3” to 2 ½”. Three small red beads on one of the eyes is pulled out on a fiber; which could easily be stitched back into place, but I do not want to tamper with an heirloom’s original condition. There is some soil on the beads and fabric due to age and use. This artifact is believed to be from the early 20th century in age
See Pictures. Pictures are Part of the Description. I have close up pictures of the beads and fabric and shells; ask seller for more pictures. I have not cleaned this artifact in anyway; it is all original and sold in “as is” condition.
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