Egúngún headress (erin type) / Adugbologe Workshop of Abeokuta, Yoruba Peoples Nigeria
About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1985/1.183
- Title
- Egúngún headress (erin type)
- Medium and Support
- wood, mirrors, pigment, gourd, beads, metal
- Object Creation Date
- circa 1960
- Object Creation Place
- Africa (continent)
- Nigeria (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Africa (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Nigeria (nation)
- Credit Line
- Gift of the Edward H. Eliscu Family
- Dimensions
- 76.2 cm x 66.04 cm x 48.26 cm (30 in. x 26 in. x 19 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Costume and Costume Accessory
- Primary Object Type
- mask
- Secondary Object Classification
- Sculpture
- Secondary Object Type
- mask
- Physical Description
- A massive, baroque, and busy wood-carved headdress with stylized face (showing classic Yoruba features) of bulging eyes with defined upper lids, long, straight, triangular nose, symmetrical scarification patterns consisting of three horizontal lines on each cheek, a short beard from ear to ear just underneath the lower lip. Two large “ears” protrude on either side of head and act as “scaffolding” for numerous attachments of symbolic content: birds and lions predominate, but also visible are amulets, wooden claws and beads, crosses, and an insignia shield of some kind. The ears terminate in two oblong mirrors with lions leaping off of each. Layers of pigment are visible, giving impression it has been repainted over time.
- Subject Matter
- Egúngún--meaning “power concealed”--is a masquerade performed to honor the sprits of important Yoruba ancestors. This marvelous headdress is worn with a voluminous costume made from layers of brightly colored cloth strips that billow and flare with the whirling rotations of the dancer, the spirit manifest. Distinguished by its large ears, it is called erin, or elephant, named for both the grandeur of its costume and the wealth of its owner.
- Secondary Keywords
- accessories worn on the head
- animals and creatures
- associated concepts
- costume
- costume accessories
- costume accessories worn
- events
- headgear
- mammals
- objects we use
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people by family relationship
- religions and religious concepts
- religious concepts
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Record
- 1985/1.183
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1985-sl-1.183/ri1985_1_183after_cons%23c468.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Egúngún headress (erin type); Adugbologe Workshop of Abeokuta, Yoruba Peoples Nigeria." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1985-sl-1.183/ri1985_1_183after_cons%23c468.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 19, 2024.
