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Prestige robe (agbádá or dàńdógó)

Arts of Africa

The Yorùbá adopted the tailored, embroidered agbádá robe after the northern Fulani Empire conquered the Ọ̀yọ́ Yorùbá Empire during the early nineteenth century. A voluminous garment that highlights its wearer’s wealth and social importance, the agbádá is worn with matching top, trousers, and cap. Made from expensive ẹtù cloth, this oversized agbádá (or dàńdógó) is the most sumptuous type. Shot through with white silk, ẹtù’s inky blue color is achieved by repeatedly dipping threads into indigo dye before weaving. The egúngún incorporates remnants of at least two agbádá, a fitting choice for a mask that uses rich textiles to honor ancestors.
CULTURE Yorùbá
MEDIUM Cotton, silk, and indigo
  • Place Made: Nigeria
  • DATES 20th century
    DIMENSIONS 49 × 103 × 2 in. (124.5 × 261.6 × 5.1 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
    ACCESSION NUMBER 1991.230.2
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Philip Gould
    PROVENANCE Prior to 1985, provenance not yet documented; June 1985, purchased by Philip and Nadia Gould of New York, NY; 1991, gift of Philip and Nadia Gould to the Brooklyn Museum.
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    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Yorùbá. Prestige robe (agbádá or dàńdógó), 20th century. Cotton, silk, and indigo, 49 × 103 × 2 in. (124.5 × 261.6 × 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Philip Gould, 1991.230.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 1991.230.2_front_PS11.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 1991.230.2_front_PS11.jpg., 2018
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    Yorùbá. <em>Prestige robe (agbádá or dàńdógó)</em>, 20th century. Cotton, silk, and indigo, 49 × 103 × 2 in. (124.5 × 261.6 × 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Philip Gould, 1991.230.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 1991.230.2_front_PS11.jpg)