**First Time At Auction**

West Africa, Nigeria, Yoruba Culture, ca. 1940s to 1950s CE. A spectacular hat made from cotton cloth and covered with thousands of glass seed beads to form colorful patterns and symbols. The hat is a skull cap design with a rounded, squat profile, and stylized faces (eyes and trunk-like nose) applied to the front and verso. These represent Oduduwa, a divine and heroic king that defeated numerous enemies and united the Yoruba people. Oduduwa's many faces symbolize the sacred authority of the wearer and protected him from evil spirits. This style of cap intended for a man of prestige such as a king or priest to wear. This beadwork must have taken hundreds of painstaking hours to complete, and the result is simply gorgeous! Size: 7" Diameter x 5" H (17.8 cm x 12.7 cm); 11.5" H (29.2 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Detroit, Michigan, USA collection, inherited December 9, 2020 from Kempf Hogan, Birmingham, Michigan, USA, purchased from Sarajo Tribal Art, New York City, New York, USA, February 16, 1989

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#185354

Losses to tassels and beads along the upper seam. A few missing beads on the surface and frayed threads, but overall good condition. Wear and discoloration to the interior cotton cloth as expected with use and age.