Lidded Basket with Cowrie Shells

Yoruba people, Nigeria , town of Ogbomosho, African

1950

  • Titles Lidded Basket with Cowrie Shells (Descriptive)
  • Medium grass fibers, cowrie shells, and yarn
  • Dimensions 5 3/4 x 10 in. Diam. (14.6 x 25.4 cm)
  • Credit Line Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Gift of Polly Clarke in memory of James A. Clarke, AFI.430.2010a-b
  • Work Type basket with cover
  • Classification Containers

See More of the Collection

Staff with snake-head finial
Oblong dark heavily patinated vessel has narrow mouth and four appliqued faces evenly spaced at top.
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Staff surmounted by the double axe motif, stylized reference to the thunderbolt believed to be hurled from the skies by Shango, with kneeling female figure.