Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)
Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila) Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila) Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila) Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila) Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila) Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila) Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)

Yoruba ceremonial cowrie shell prestige cap (Ade or Fila)

16151

$1,295
/
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Nigeria, mid-20th century, constructed over a woven fibrous foundation and lined with vintage blue-grey trade cloth. The hemispherical dome is entirely encrusted with hundreds of natural marine cowrie shells (Cypraea moneta / annulus), meticulously stitched with their dorsal mounds cut and positioned slit-side outward in tight, overlapping imbricated rows that radiate upward toward the apex. Surmounting the crown is a finial composition consisting of a rounded seed pod or textile-covered core terminating in an egg-shaped white trade bead and an attached rolled textile or fiber talismanic cylinder. Suspended from the dark leather or textile-bound perimeter rim are multiple long pendent strands composed of stacked, horizontal cowrie shells along with leather tie-tabs, designed to cascade down the sides of the wearer's head and neck. In traditional Yoruba ritual and court life, cowrie shells—historically serving as currency (owo eyo)—represent supreme material wealth, spiritual currency, and divine favor (ase), making regalia of this caliber central to the priesthood of deities associated with prosperity, such as Aje Shaluga (the Orisha of wealth), high-ranking Babalawo (diviners of Ifa), or titleholders during sacred festivals. The piece exhibits an authentic, aged creamy-ivory to mellowed honey tone across the shell surface, with minor localized fraying to the underlying textile lining and suspension cords consistent with mid-century ceremonial handling and age, Excellent condition. Size 7-1/2 inches H; 23 isupported on a modern custom museum display stand (included)
Provenance Ex Texas col.

Every object is guaranteed authentic and as described, and has been legally acquired and imported in accordance with U.S. and applicable foreign regulations on the movement and sale of antiquities. A signed certificate of authenticity with a description and photograph accompanies this object. Any restoration is described on the invoice.

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