Minneapolis Institute of Art

Headdress

Amhara artist

Date

c. 1900

Medium

Velvet, silk, cotton, silver, glass, lion fur

Culture

Amhara

Department

Arts of Global Africa

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Everything about this prestigious Ethiopian costume shouts “lion”! The animal’s fur and mane were used to decorate the shoulders of the cape and the crown of the headdress. The cape’s shape is modeled on a lion skin, with long straps suggesting four paws and a tail. The front-piece has a central triangular gilded plaque engraved with a lion and a sword. This is the Lion of Judah, traditionally regarded as the symbol of the Israelite King Solomon from which the emperors of Ethiopia claimed descent. In the past, an emperor would have given this costume to a great hunter or warrior as a badge of honor. Amhara, Africa

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