1950s Yoruba Ceremonial Beaded Sango Tunic With Custom Metal Floor Stand - 50" H X 30" W

Details

Description

Striking ceremonial beaded tunic created by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. It features brightly colored depictions of animals along with … Read more Striking ceremonial beaded tunic created by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. It features brightly colored depictions of animals along with abstract patterns. These beaded Sango vests or tunics were worn by a High priest during divination ceremonies and festivals and are considered empowered with spiritual and medicinal energy; thus empowering the wearer with 'Ase' – authority and command.

This is an authenticated garment that rests on a solid metal museum-quality floor stand which has been newly powder coated with a matte black finish. Due to the ornamentation on both the front and back sides, this piece is surprisingly heavy. The level of craftsmanship makes for a stunning freestanding sculptural piece that can be enjoyed from both sides since they are equally adorned with thousands of glass seed beads and share the same level of detail.

This would be suitable for a public or private collection and lend visual interest to a range of interior settings from Globally-Inspired, Boho, Industrial/Loft... to Southwestern or Mid-Century.

Place of Origin: Nigeria

Date of Manufacture: 1950s

Condition: Excellent

Wear: Consistent with age and use. Please refer to pictures.

Dimensions:

Tunic: 45.5 in. H X 29.0 in. W X 1.0 in. D

Total: 50.0 in. H X 30.0 in. W X 6.0 in. D

Provenance:

This amazing piece has been part of the private collection of Dean Warner, a noted dealer in Pre-Columbian & Tribal Artifacts since the 1980s. The museum-quality free-standing floor stand was newly powder coated a matte black.

Mr. Warner (1931-2025) was a graduate of both Mexico City College and Thunderbird and a He had galleries in Dallas and La Jolla, a client base that included private individuals and institutions, and served as an authority for authentication. In retirement, Mr. Warner (T-Bird '57) continued to be an avid collector and served both as the Art Curator for the Thunderbird School of Global Management (now part of Arizona State University) and the Creator/Director of the The Global Market for ethnographic art and gifts which was founded in 1994. Many of the items he collected are now part of the permanent collection of the university.

Reference:

African Arts, 1998 (pgs. 18-27), HALI, African Textiles in Dallas, New Orleans Museum of Art, University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, Princeton University Art Museum, Art Institute of Chicago.

Shipping Note:

Due to the size and weight of this piece, it will need custom handling and packaging. Contact us for a quote. See less