Headpiece
2019 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Lafalaise Dion is a jewellery and accessory designer, known for her elaborate wearable art pieces made from cowrie shells. Born in Man, a town in the north-western region of Côte d’Ivoire, Dion’s family is part of the Dan people (officially known as Yacouba). Her work is inspired by Dan culture, history and spirituality. Cowrie shells are present in all of her designs, which centre their cultural importance: ‘We use cowries to communicate with our ancestors, to praise the Lord, to customize garments. They are the way that I reconcile myself with African spirituality.’ Dion notes her early work was inspired by the TéMaTé, a group of female dancers who traditionally dressed themselves with cowries before performing, recalling ‘I guess as I missed my vocation as a TéMaTé, adorning people with jewellery made of them, is my final answer to their calling.’
Dion decided to build her brand after receiving lots of interest in a headpiece she designed and wore at the international Chale Wote Street Art Festival in Accra in 2018. Her designs gained particular prominence in 2020 when Beyonce wore one of her cowrie designs in Black is King.
Dion decided to build her brand after receiving lots of interest in a headpiece she designed and wore at the international Chale Wote Street Art Festival in Accra in 2018. Her designs gained particular prominence in 2020 when Beyonce wore one of her cowrie designs in Black is King.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | cowry shells, plastic beads, nylon thread |
| Brief description | Headpiece, Amazon, cowry shells, Lafalaise Dion, Cote d'Ivoire, 2021 |
| Physical description | Headpiece made from cowrie shells which are joined together in a pattern to cover the crown and then fall down in lines to ankle length. In between the cowrie shells are beads. |
| Production type | small batch |
| Summary | Lafalaise Dion is a jewellery and accessory designer, known for her elaborate wearable art pieces made from cowrie shells. Born in Man, a town in the north-western region of Côte d’Ivoire, Dion’s family is part of the Dan people (officially known as Yacouba). Her work is inspired by Dan culture, history and spirituality. Cowrie shells are present in all of her designs, which centre their cultural importance: ‘We use cowries to communicate with our ancestors, to praise the Lord, to customize garments. They are the way that I reconcile myself with African spirituality.’ Dion notes her early work was inspired by the TéMaTé, a group of female dancers who traditionally dressed themselves with cowries before performing, recalling ‘I guess as I missed my vocation as a TéMaTé, adorning people with jewellery made of them, is my final answer to their calling.’ Dion decided to build her brand after receiving lots of interest in a headpiece she designed and wore at the international Chale Wote Street Art Festival in Accra in 2018. Her designs gained particular prominence in 2020 when Beyonce wore one of her cowrie designs in Black is King. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.75-2022 |
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| Record created | January 12, 2022 |
| Record URL |
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