Nimba headdress, Miniature
Dublin Core
Title
Nimba headdress, Miniature
Creator
Baga or Nalu Cultures
Creator Biography
before 1985
Culture
Baga or Nalu Cultures
Place Made
Guinea, West Africa
Description
Nimba are large wooden Baga and Nalu headdresses that portray the abstracted head and shoulders of a woman elder. Many features identify her maturity and high status, including her elaborately braided, crested hairstyle and the geometric scarification (raised tattoo) designs on her face and body. Among the most striking features of the sculpture, however, are the large, flat, pendulous breasts: these represent the woman's successful, selfless contributions to the community by giving birth and nurturing children to adulthood. This Nimba headdress is an accurately carved miniature that may have served as a personal display item, or it may have been made for the tourist trade.
Researched by Erin Dooley, MSU Student, 2008, Under the direction of Dr. Billie Follensbee
Researched by Erin Dooley, MSU Student, 2008, Under the direction of Dr. Billie Follensbee
Century
20th Century
Item Dimensions
73 cm h. x 16 cm w. x 27 cm d.
Medium
Sculpture
Materials
Wood
Techniques
Carved design
Provenance
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Stoneman
Acession Number
1985.41A
Accession Year
1985
Photo Number
20200029