Beaded Vodou Flag – Framed Ritual Figure

A female figure with long black hair, wearing a dress patterned with roses, stands out against a ground of red beads. The flag is presented under glass, in a black frame with a mount.

Hand-embroidered with glass beads and sequins sewn one by one, Haitian Vodou flags — drapo — depict the spirits (lwa) of the Vodou pantheon. Once ritual objects, they have become works of art in their own right, held in the collections of American museums.

The glazing protects the embroidery and enhances the museum quality of the piece.