Simbi drapo

NameRitual flag

Artist Artist Not Recorded

Date1990-1999

Place madeHaiti, Caribbean

Place collectedPort-au-Prince, Haiti, Caribbean

MediumSynthetic satin, plastic sequins, glass beads

Dimensions29 3/4 × 27 3/4 in. (75.6 × 70.5 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Dr. William T. Waters, A.2018.26.11

Terms

value (economic concept)

Object numberA.2018.26.11

ProvenancePurchased by donor from Pierrot Barra and Marie Cassaise, Iron Market, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Caribbean.

DescriptionVodou flag with beads and sequins. Colors of sequins and beads include iridescent pearl, navy blue, fuchsia, black sequins with purple iris beads, gold, cream white, green, red, silver and light pink. Border is a silver satin with an inner border of cream colored half circles on a navy background. Top fuchsia stripe with white sequin and bead inscription "SIMbY". The center symbol is an equal cross pattern with a circle at the center. The cross is gold with a green, pink and white circle at its center. The cross has four distinct patterns on each of the four limbs. The center top has a "s" shaped vine and two off shoots to the right and left. The center bottom has a pink diamond shaped symbol with two off shoots of white to the right and the left. The proper left limb has two green "x" shapes to the top and bottom of the limb, and a green star at the tip of the limb. The proper right limb has two green "x" shapes to the top and bottom of the limb, and green curved off shoots with a pink "v" shape that intersects the green off shoots and the limb, to create a kind of arrow effect. The top proper right quadrant contains a white cup with handle. The top proper left quadrant contains two crossed gold rattles. The proper right bottom quadrant contains a white candle with a red flame, below that are the two silver sequined letters "C.C". The bottom proper left quadrant contains a gold vase or gourd shaped symbol.