Accession Number
1997/1.308

Title
Beaded Foot Cushion

Artist(s)
Yoruba

Artist Nationality
Yoruba (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1946

Medium & Support
cloth, leather, raffia fiber and multi-colored beadwork

Dimensions
7 ⅞ in x 14 3/16 in x 14 3/16 in (20 cm x 36.04 cm x 36.04 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis

Subject matter
This beaded foot cushion, called apote itise (meaning box for the feet) or timutimu (meaning something filled with powerful, unknown things) in the Yoruba language, would have formed part of the regalia of an oba, a sacred Yoruba king. During events of great importance, the feet of an oba could not touch the ground; beaded shoes, boots, seats, and foot cushions were used to elevate them. Foot cushions also physically raised the oba, which would have highlighted his powerful status. Intertwined with floral patterns, the faces on the foot cushion were also found on other beaded regalia. The diamond and zig-zag designs on the forehead of each face refer to ori inu, or the inner head, the site of a person's (in this case an oba's) ase, or life force.

References Cited: 
Drewal, Henry John and John Mason. 1998. Beads Body and Soul: Art and Light in the Yoruba Universe. Los Angeles: UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, 

Physical Description
Circular cushion with multi-colored beadwork. The top is decorated with a large yellow flower surrounded by smaller flowers and vines on a blue background. The edge is outlined with red beads and the date "1946". The sides are decorated with six alternating faces and yellow and red flowers. Three faces are green and red, while three are blue and yellow.

Primary Object Classification
Furniture and Furniture Accessories

Primary Object Type
stool

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
ceremonial objects
feet
flowers
furniture
head
kings (people)
power
regalia
symbols of office or status