a-Bil-ña-Tshol (medicine canoe) headdress
Featuring a seat at the rear and a circular prow, this narrow, densely patterned headdress was designed to resemble a canoe. The nautical form was closely tied to the performance of the a-Tshol human-bird headdress. At kä-bërë-Tshol (a primary initiation for girls and boys), the dancer bearing this headdress would follow the a-Tshol. Worn horizontally atop the head, the unwieldy sculpture had a cylindrical block into which a groove was carved to assist with balance. In order to simulate the motion of a waterborne vessel, the performer’s movements and posture suggested a state of floating.
Artwork Details
- Title: a-Bil-ña-Tshol (medicine canoe) headdress
- Artist: Baga artist
- Date: late 19th–first half of 20th century
- Geography: Guinea, Niger River region
- Culture: Baga peoples
- Medium: Wood, pigment
- Dimensions: H. 7 1/2 × D. 3 × L. 88 1/16 in. (19.1 × 7.6 × 223.6 cm)
- Classification: Wood-Sculpture
- Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
- Object Number: 1979.206.66
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Baga artist
late 19th–first half of 20th century
Baga artist
19th–first half of 20th century
Baga artist
late 19th–first half of 20th century
Baga artist
late 19th–first half of 20th century
Baga artist
19th–first half of 20th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.