Attributed to Joseph Sylva. An example of a large altar flag for Haitian Vodou practice. Expertly worked to dazzling effect in glass beads, seed pearls, and sequins in shimmering colors of alexandrite, garnet, silver, gold, onyx, clear diamond, and snow white. Signed “JS” and reads “Simby Makaya.” Measures 29 x 28 1/2 inches, including border, and weighs an impressive 2 pounds. Each sequin is overlapped by others and secured by a bead. Shows some signs of age in dinginess and is priced accordingly. It appears the backing may have been reworked to encase the hanging dowel.
Simbi Makaya / Simby Makaya, Voodoo magician of protection and change, may be represented in the equal-arm cross veve. Alternatively, the veve may represent two waters.
Ellie
/
Virginia
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Thank you so much for your diligence! I want to let you know that I received the package today, and it is beautiful! My mother collects haitian art and this is her Christmas present. She has long been wanting to add a Vodou flag to her collection, and I know she is going to be thrilled with this piece.”