Headdress in the Form of a Crocodile
| Culture | Niger Delta |
|---|---|
| Title | Headdress in the Form of a Crocodile |
| Date | Unknown |
| Medium | Wood and bamboo |
| Dimensions | Object: 85 × 14 in. (215.9 × 35.6 cm) Overall: 85 × 14 in. (215.9 × 35.6 cm) |
| Credit Line | Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 72.116.2 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A headdress in the form of a simplified and stylized crocodile. The scales of the crocodile are rectangular shapes.
Masquerades including crocodile headdresses are found among various peoples of the Niger Delta, including the Abua and Ekeye. The crocodile is seen as a mediator between realms becuase it lives both in the water and on land. Masqueraders often mimic its aggressive, violent behavior by lunging at spectators.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Headdress in the Form of a Crocodile | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=72.116.2