Bag c. 20th century

This beaded bag was made by a Yoruba artist. Notice the intricate beadwork, where geometric patterns dominate. The lozenge shapes and checkerboard designs are visual devices that, in Yoruba culture, often speak to the interconnectedness of the spiritual and physical realms. We see the lozenge echoed across time in varied forms. Think of the ancient Greeks and Romans decorating mosaics with similar keys and guilloche patterns, or the Celtic knotwork that weaves endlessly, connecting all. Here, on this bag, these patterns are not mere decoration. They function as symbolic gestures, a visual language intended to convey deeper meaning. The Yoruba believe in the power of symbols to influence the world. The motifs tap into collective memories, evoking emotions and psychological connections to ancestors and spiritual forces. These are echoes of a shared human experience.