Masks; Bamileke (African people); Bamileke (African people)--Rites and ceremonies; Cameroon
This mask represents the elephant and the leopard, royal symbols of the Bamileke king's power and wealth. According to the legend of the Bamileke people of the Western Grasslands of Cameroon, the king can transform himself into either of these...
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,...
China; China -- History -- Han dynasty, 202 B.C.-220 A.D.; Lions; Lions in art; Sculpture
Chinese lions may not look much like actual lions from Africa, but they share many characteristics with mythical lions found in folklore traditions around the world. According to Chinese belief, lions chase away evil spirits and bring good luck,...
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....
This chair, part of Frank Gehry's "Easy Edges" series, was one of the seventeen pieces in the series made from laminated cardboard. The lamination, done at right angles, increased the strength and resilience of the collection. Originally...
Hats; Headgear; Congo (Democratic Republic); Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Social life and customs; Lega (African people); Lega (African people) -- Social life and customs; Lega (African people) -- Clothing; Clothing and dress
In African societies, hats are often worn to reveal a person’s place in society or membership in a specific social organization. This hat was worn by a member of a special society called Bwami. Men and women of the Lega peoples in the Democratic...
Cameroon; Cameroon -- Social life and customs; Rites and ceremonies -- Cameroon; Bamenda (African people); Bamenda (African people) -- Social life and customs; Whistles; Dance -- Cameroon; Music -- Cameroon; Musical instruments
This whistle was purchased from the Cameroon Handwork Cooperative (a program initiated by the Peace Corps) in Western Cameroon in 1964, where it was made by an artist of the Bamenda peoples. The horn-like design on the mouthpiece probably...
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...
Eskimos; Eskimos -- Alaska; Eskimos -- Alaska -- Social life and customs; Balls (Sporting goods); Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Sports
Traditionally, games of strength and endurance were played by the Alaskan Eskimo or Inuit and they did not require objects. Early contact with explorers introduced ball games that were sometimes adapted to fit the Alaskan Eskimo environment. This...
With his superhuman strength, flying ability and X-ray vision, Superman has remained a popular superhero across generations. His first appearance was in June of 1938 in DC Comics' Action Comics." In 1978 actor Christopher Reeve brought the...
Olympics; Utah; Salt Lake City (Utah); Winter Olympic Games (19th : 2002 : Salt Lake City, Utah)
The mascots of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics represented the land and culture of Utah and the American West. Inspired by images from ancient petroglyphs, Powder the Hare, Coal the Bear and Copper the Coyote were chosen as ideal icons for...
China; Clothing and dress; China--History; Dragons in art; 20th century
A man of nobility or royalty in the Chinese court probably wore this winter robe at the beginning of the 20th century. Made of black silk, embroidered with gold thread and lined with the fur of ermine, the robe is decorated with dragons, a symbol...
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...
Masks; Senufo (African people); Senufo (African people)--Social life and customs; Co^te d'Ivoire; Burkina Faso; Ghana; Mali; Africa, West; Rites and ceremonies
This type of mask, called kpelie, is worn among Senufo peoples of Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Mali in West Africa. It combines a human face with features of different animals. The face is meant to represent the Senufo ideal of female...
China; China -- Social life and customs; Hats; Headgear; Folklore -- China; Costume -- China; Clothing and dress
Children's hats like these have been worn in China for many centuries. In Chinese culture, the head is considered a very important part of the human body and is well protected, especially on babies. Children's hats depict different creatures and...
China; China -- History; China -- social life and customs; Folk dancing, Chinese; Lions; Dance; Costume; Headgear; Chinese New Year
According to Chinese belief, lions chase away evil spirits and bring good luck, most likely because of their size, strength and fierce nature. Chinese lions are depicted as very colorful and stylized. This mask is a smaller version of a full-sized...
