GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The smaller, elaborately beaded sculpture is an ibori, symbolizing a person’s ori inu (inner head, or an individual’s personal destiny) [2005.102]. The larger one is an ile ori, or “house of the head,” which simultaneously protects and celebrates the ibori. Their roughly conical shapes are similar to royal beaded crowns and Ifa divination tappers, and their bird imagery refers to the power of women to assure continuity of the lineage.
To ensure the ideal destiny of joining one’s ancestors after a full life, it is necessary to treat one’s inner head as a deity and honor it with prayers and offerings. An individual would invest in the largest and most elaborately decorated ibori and ile ori possible. This pair is decorated with European glass “seed” beads and cowries from the faraway Maldive Islands. Upon the death of the owner, both the ibori and ile ori were usually dismantled and the beads and cowries scattered on the late owner’s grave or spent as currency by the survivors.
Excerpt from
Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, Arts of Africa, 2015.
NOTES
Catalogue essays specific to object
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
n.d.-1989: Alfred Scheinberg [1]
1989-2004: Richard Meyer [2]
2004-2005: private collection [3]
2005: Dallas Museum of Art, African Collection Fund, purchased from Bradley Tribal Arts, New York
[1] See "Acquisition Proposal" in Collections Records object file.
[2] See above.
[3] See "Invoice" from Bradley Tribal Arts dated February 24, 2005 in Collections Records object file.
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VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
apply to objects where number equals 2005.13
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General Description
The smaller, elaborately beaded sculpture is an ibori, symbolizing a person’s ori inu (inner head, or an individual’s personal destiny) [2005.102]. The larger one is an ile ori, or “house of the head,” which simultaneously protects and celebrates the ibori. Their roughly conical shapes are similar to royal beaded crowns and Ifa divination tappers, and their bird imagery refers to the power of women to assure continuity of the lineage.
To ensure the ideal destiny of joining one’s ancestors after a full life, it is necessary to treat one’s inner head as a deity and honor it with prayers and offerings. An individual would invest in the largest and most elaborately decorated ibori and ile ori possible. This pair is decorated with European glass “seed” beads and cowries from the faraway Maldive Islands. Upon the death of the owner, both the ibori and ile ori were usually dismantled and the beads and cowries scattered on the late owner’s grave or spent as currency by the survivors.
Excerpt from
Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, Arts of Africa, 2015.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Catalogue essays specific to object
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
n.d.-1989: Alfred Scheinberg [1]
1989-2004: Richard Meyer [2]
2004-2005: private collection [3]
2005: Dallas Museum of Art, African Collection Fund, purchased from Bradley Tribal Arts, New York
[1] See "Acquisition Proposal" in Collections Records object file.
[2] See above.
[3] See "Invoice" from Bradley Tribal Arts dated February 24, 2005 in Collections Records object file.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
2005.13
source file
object_notes_2_d-0341.xml.nores