This is an antique House of the Head shrine recently purchased from a private collection.

It is a Ile Ori shrine symbolizing the inner head that was made by the Yoruba Peoples in the late 18th century or early 19th.  It is a conical form with a spherical finial made of leather hide, cowrie shells and red cloth. 

The leather container is decorated with rows of drilled cowrie shells and alternating strips of green braided leather cords and brown leather hide strips. The knob like handle is covered in fabric and has grosgrain ribbon wraps. The knob is attached to the lid by short ropes of brown braided leather and the stopper is covered in red wool fabric.  There is a cowrie shell in the container.

 

It measures 7" tall and 4" across the bottom.

Condition: The fabric on the knob is very worn and frayed.

We purchased the collection of late 19th and early 20th century Nigerian artifacts collected between approx. 1950-70. There are over 50 pieces with a focus on ceremonial, ritual and spiritual tools and also a collection of West African currency manilla bracelets. Many are rare museum quality pieces including Ifa Divination tools, cowrie shrines and Santeria fetishes and Eshu figures.

Be sure to check my listings for the other pieces from the same collection. All the pieces have been privately held for the last 60+ years by the original collectors and are offered here for sale for the first time.

Provenance will be provided to the winning buyer if requested.