Crown
The power of kingship resides in this type of crown.
The Yoruba formal crown (or Adenla) represents the highest level of authority given to Yoruba leaders and is a symbol of great power and status. They are worn on state occasions and public functions. It is made out of glass beads and cotton, with the use of glass being a sign of wealth and royalty. The different bead colours are associated with Yoruba cosmology and divinity, giving agency to the crown.
The bird on the top of the crown represents the king's ability to mediate between spiritual and secular worlds. Each crown is unique to the king who wears it and the veil separates the ruler from the people and reinforces their role as divine leader.
Likely acquired by FP Pinkett 1895 - 1911.
The Yoruba formal crown (or Adenla) represents the highest level of authority given to Yoruba leaders and is a symbol of great power and status. They are worn on state occasions and public functions. It is made out of glass beads and cotton, with the use of glass being a sign of wealth and royalty. The different bead colours are associated with Yoruba cosmology and divinity, giving agency to the crown.
The bird on the top of the crown represents the king's ability to mediate between spiritual and secular worlds. Each crown is unique to the king who wears it and the veil separates the ruler from the people and reinforces their role as divine leader.
Likely acquired by FP Pinkett 1895 - 1911.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 1/1993/31
- Category
- Ethnography
- Collection Class
- Clothing and accessories
- Collection Area Region
- W
- Material
- glass | cotton | | |
- Common Name
- crown
- Simple Name
- crown
- Production Town
- Production County
- SW Nigeria
- Production Country
- Nigeria
- Production Person Initials
- Production Person Surname
- Production Year Low
- Production Year High
- 1911
