Yoruba (African people); Yoruba (African people) -- Social life and customs; Stools; Furniture; Beadwork
The Kingdom of the Yoruba peoples in West Africa was once very vast. The king, or oba, was highly revered and appeared in highly decorative attire during public occasions. He always wore an elaborately beaded crown. At the turn of the century, when...
Dance; Clothing and Dress; Headgear; Papua New Guinea; Papua New Guinea--Social life and customs
Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the tropical island of New Guinea (which it shares with the Indonesian territory of Irian Jaya) as well as numerous smaller islands and atolls in the Pacific. The Blackwater River originates from...
Although played all over the world, chess is often considered a "royal game" because it was regularly played by the kings and nobles of feudal Europe. It probably originated as a war game in India during the 17th century (known as...
Weddings --Russia; Dolls; Russia; Russia -- Social life and customs
These dolls represent a young peasant bride and groom of late 19th century Russia. The bride, named Darya, wears clothing traditionally worn by married women from the Voronezh Province. Prokhor, the groom, wears clothing typically worn by a...
Italy; Butter molds; Italy -- Social life and customs; Implements, utensils, etc.;
Early butter molds were shaped like paddles and had a decorative carving. Butter molds and stamps decorated the butter before being served at home or sold at the market. Most molds were made in all the prosperous dairying regions of northern...
Butter molds; Switzerland -- Social life and customs; Implements, utensils, etc.;
Early butter molds were shaped like paddles with a decorative carving and used to imprint the design on a mound of butter. Box-like butter molds decorated the top surface as well as the sides. Butter molds and stamps decorated the butter before...
Headgear; Ghana; Ghana--Social life and customs; Togo--Social life and customs; Helmets; 1960s
Helmets like this one, called ipiedza, are worn by hunters and warriors among peoples of northern Ghana and Togo in Western Africa during festivals associated with hunting and war. The cow horns represent the large animal's power and strength. Used...
Shamanism; Necklaces; Haida Indians; Haida Indians--Social life and customs; Tlingit Indians; Tlingit Indians--Social life and customs
In the past, shamans healed the sick, helped bring success in hunting, fishing or war and worked for spiritual balance in the community. By traveling to the spirit world, shamans could call upon spirit-helpers to aid them in recovering lost or...
Yoruba (African people); Yoruba (African people) -- Social life and customs; Chairs
In ancient and current Yoruba culture, people of importance are symbolically and physicallly separated from the rest of society. At specific times, the feet of alaase (rulers, priests and initiates) must not be in physical contact with the earth....
Church buildings; Models and modelmaking; Mexico; Nineteen eighties
Religion is extremely important to the many cultures of Mexico. This importance can be traced back to the Ancient Aztecs and Mayans who built temples to their gods and made sacrifices, sometimes human, in their name. Today, the majority of Mexicans...
A new hat for a new hairstyle! During the 1920s, the cloche hat fitted closely to the bobbed haircut – almost to the eyebrows! As the most popular hat for women, the cloche came to represent the social reforms women worked for including the right...
China; Cookie molds -- China; China -- Social life and customs; Taoism; Implements, utensils, etc.; Cookies;
These cookie molds represent 5 figures from the Taoist immortals, which are considered the “patron saints” of Taoism belief. The immortals represent eight average individuals who portray wisdom and morality for all humans. It is believed that...
Micronesia, a group of islands in the Pacific, developed extensive navigational technology to aid in the exchange between the naturally sparse islands. This chart features wide split reeds of various lengths bound together with twine that creates a...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast of North America; Tlingit Indians; Tlingit Indians -- Social life and customs; Chilkat textile fabrics; Dolls; Indian dolls; Blankets; Indian blankets; 1950s
Chilkat dancing blankets were made for men and women to wear, or give, at special Northwest Coast occasions. The art of Chilkat blanket weaving originated with the Tsimshian people but later spread to the Tlingit people through trade and marriage....
Hanukkah; Dreidel (Game); Jews -- History -- 586 B.C.-70 A.D.
Dreidels are square-sided spinning tops used to play a game of chance. The four Hebrew letters, nun (N), gimmel (G), he (H), and shin (SH) illustrated on the sides of the dreidel represent the sentence Nes Godol Hoyoh Shom, A great miracle happened...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore; Drum; Eagles; Dragonflies; Indians of North America -- Rites and ceremonies; Musical instruments
Different Native American groups have different traditions about the drum and how to play it. Painted symbols or ornaments on a drum represent various meanings. This hand drum has dragonflies and an eagle painted on the head. In Plains traditions,...
Pots; Containers; Akan (African people); Akan (African people)--Social life and customs; Ghana; Elephants in art
This elephant most likely served as a "proverb pot." Among Akan peoples of Ghana, animal imagery often stands for proverbs, short, traditional sayings that express beliefs, lessons or truths. One Akan proverb states: "When an...
Indians of North America; Woodland Indians; Mohawk Indians; Onondaga Indians; Indians of North America -- Clothing; Clothing and dress; Headgear
Mohawk artist Towanna Miller created this contemporary headdress called a gustowah. The number and position of the feathers or the position of the hat can signify what clan the wearer belongs to or what position he holds in his culture. This...
Burma; Burma - social life and customs; Calendars; Calendars--India; India--Civilization--To 1200; Buddhism; Mayanmar; Religion
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia. There are many indigenous cultures in Myanmar with Buddhism being the dominant religion along with Nat worship. Nat worship involves elaborate rituals and ceremonies...
Isis (Egyptian deity); Egypt -- Social life and customs -- To 332 B.C.; Egypt -- Civilization--To 332 B.C.; Egypt -- Antiquities
Ancient Egyptians believed in an elaborate set of Gods, all interrelated in complex stories and events. These Gods often appeared in human form with characteristics of a specific animal or in half human/half animal form. They also had the power to...
