Lid to Vessel for Stones of the River God Erinle (Omori Awo Ota Erinle)

Devotees of the god Erinle, “King-within-the-River,” fill earthenware vessels with river water or seawater and riverbed stones. This is the lid, or an awo ota erinle, of such a vessel; its open, dome-like construction is a stylized rendition of the crowns worn by Yoruba monarchs. Erinle vessel lids occasionally appear in dance performances, placed atop the heads of female devotees. The female potter who created this vessel worked in a style similar to that of the master artist Abatan Odefunke Ayinke Ija.