Ógbóni Society Ring (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
The Yoruba Ógbóni Society, worshippers of Onilé, “owner of the earth,” is noted for the metal staff, bracelets, and large rings used by its members.
The arrangement of faces on this ring related to basic Ógbóni concepts. The number three and the pairing of opposites are common Ógbóni symbols. This ring joins two symmetrical halves, implying unity. The three faces on each half reflect the idea that two Ógbóni Society members become three, the third being the secret they share between them.
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Philip M. Nesmith in Memory of Fisher H. Nesmith, Jr.
Robbins, Warren and Nancy Ingram Nooter. African Art in American Collections. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1989. (No. 668, no. 252).
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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