Object Name: Palace door-panels

Artist: Atelier of Areogun

Culture: Yoruba peoples

Place of Origin: Nigeria

Date/Era: Early to mid-20th century

Medium/Materials: Wood

Dimensions: H: 182 cm

Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum purchase.

Accession Number: X69.66AB

During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, intricately carved palace doors announced the power of Yoruba royalty. These doors, which once graced the entry to the palace at Osi-Ilorin, are from the atelier of the renowned Yoruba artist Areogun. On each register bas-relief scenes portray everyday life, kingship rituals, and the ruling dynasty. Motifs drawn from modern life also infuse this artist’s work, reflecting the dynamism of Yoruba culture in the twentieth century.