Yoruba peoples, Nigeria
Late 19th to early 20th century
Copper alloy
23.50 x 19.37 x 21 cm (9 1/4 x 7 5/8 x 8 1/4 in.)
2005-6-74, gift of Walt Disney World Co., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (cat. no. 74)
More/Less Information
The four staring faces are said to represent the all-seeing gods or ancestors. Their protruding eyes signify when the spiritual eye replaces ordinary vision. The two figures with mudfish legs refer to supernatural powers in two realms, land and water-or reality and spirit. The projecting stem of the crown may allude to stored spiritual power in the wearer's head and also show that the wearer is exempt from everyday chores such as the carrying of loads on one's head.
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