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1917.38.13

Cowrie-covered head-dress. [ZM 21/7/2005]

1917.38.13

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Collection type
Object
Description
Cowrie-covered head-dress. [ZM 21/7/2005]
Long description
The head piece is made from plant fibre, nut or coconut husk (?), which has been covered in textile, then cowrie shells. The edges have been hemmed with leather. Twelve leather straps threaded with cowrie shells have been knotted to the head piece. The leather has been plaited at two intervals along the length of each strap. Four of the straps have copper alloy bells tied to the bottom. [HR 18/10/2005]
Geographical reference
Nigeria
Africa > Western Africa > Nigeria
Ogun State Abeokuta
Person
Field collector Unknown Collector
PRM source Beatrice Braithwaite Batty
Date / Period
Date made: Circa by 1865
Date collected
about 1865
Acquisition information
Donated: 1917
Materials and processes
Material Cowrie Shell, Material Animal Leather Skin, Material Copper Alloy Metal, Material Textile
Dimensions
Length x Width: max 1120 x 340 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1917.38.13

Search terms: Clothing Headgear, Status, Religion, Headdress, Status Object, Religious Object

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