Headdress "gelede" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba, Ketu, Samuel Laroye of Meko · ID: 3049095

Description

wood, colour pigments, old place of repair

Fascinating object with sweeping headdress of beautifully curved bands ending in massive tassels framing the face.

Regarding the figural superstructure, Hans Witte remarked: “the superstructure seems to commemorate the coronation of an English king. The crown held by heraldic leopards imitates a european coat of arms”.

Meko (Imeko), a small town in Nigeria near the border with Benin, was an important center of woodcarving. Among the best known masters of Meko are the famous Duga (ca. 1880-1960) and his rival Mosudi Olatunji. Another well-known sculptor from Meko is Samuel Laroye, to whom the present headdress can be attributed. Another work by the artist published in Lawal,1996, p. 277, ill. 8.5.

The object Headdress “gelede” with the object ID 3049095 was part of the auction 99th Auction on November 12, 2022. The object with the lot number 86 achieved a sales price of EUR 950 with an asking price of EUR 600.

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Comparing literature

Lawal, Babatunde, The Gèlèdé Spectacle, Seattle, London 1996, p. 277, ill. 8.5

Publications

AHDRC: 0110384