YORUBA STYLE BEADED SASHES (1-24), NIGERIA

YORUBA STYLE Beaded Sashes 1-4 1, 46" long, SOLD 2, 44" long, $150 3, 46" long, $150 4, 46.5" long, SOLD

YORUBA STYLE Beaded Sashes 5-8 5, 47" long, SOLD 6, 46" long, SOLD 7, 45" long, SOLD 8, 42" long, SOLD

YORUBA STYLE Beaded Sashes 9-12 9, 44" long, SOLD 10, 49.5" long, SOLD 11, 42" long, $SOLD 12, 43.5" long, SOLD

YORUBA STYLE Beaded Sashes 13-16 13, 42.5" long, SOLD 14, 47" long, $150 15, 46" long, SOLD 1 6, 46" long, SOLD

YORUBA STYLE Beaded Sashes 17-20 17, 42.5" long, SOLD 18, 42.5" long, $150 19, 43.5" long,, SOLD 20, 43.5" long, SOLD

YORUBA STYLE Beaded Sashes 21-24 21, 43.5" long, SOLD 22, 49" long, SOLD 23, 51.5" long, SOLD 24, 50" long SOLD

Brightly inventive and meticulously constructed, these modern sashes are based upon sashes that functioned as symbols of the owner's spiritual position and were worn in public ceremonies by Ifa priestesses. Although they have no spiritual use, these pieces are produced by hand in Nigeria by the Yoruba people.

The original sashes were derived from the sacred beaded sheaths for Oko iron staffs (see Yoruba Beaded Sheaths),

Beads and cowrie shells were signs of wealth and status. In addition to the Yoruba faces with vertical scarification on the cheeks, common themes include many types of animals and geometric patterns.