Frontal Headband c. 20th century

This frontal headband was made by Ida ou Semlal Amazigh; its age and exact materials are unknown, but I'd guess beads, silver, and fabric. It has this really cool, strung-together quality, a casual attitude, like, "I found these things, and now they're together." The headband is really about texture and colour, you know? The matte fabric, those bright beads, the dangling silver coins. There's a rhythm there, a beat. And that faded blue? Amazing. It's got this worn, soft look that makes you want to reach out and touch it. I really love how the central ornament looks like a little abstracted face staring back at you! It reminds me of some of the work of Liza Lou. She also works in similar processes of obsessive making, but on a bigger scale. Ultimately, it’s this sense of play, of not being too precious, that makes this piece so cool.