Cleveland Museum of Art

Coronet (oríkògbófo)

Date

1900s

Medium

Cloth, glass beads, and thread

Culture

Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Yorùbá-style maker

Department

African Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Like the rare conical crown ( ade ), the coronet ( oríkògbófo ) may only be worn by a king descended from Oduduwa, the first king of the Yorùbá. While the crown is reserved for special occasions, the coronet may be used by the king for less formal public events and when entertaining non-Yorùbá visitors. It signifies wealth rather than royal status. The beads on this sculpture were imported, likely from Venice or Bohemia (now called the Czech Republic).

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