Rastafarianism
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of objects relating to Rastafarianism which date from between 1936 and 1951. This collection comprises a sword, shield, painting and various leather items. The sword, spear, shield, belt and scabbard were presented to Lord Inverclyde at Addis Ababa, in November 1951 by His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia and were gifted to Glasgow Museums in 1958. The ceremonial shield is made of rhinoceros hide, covered in red velvet and ornamented with gold. This is further decorated with the Royal Emblem of the Lion of Judah on the Star of David (Haile Selassie's full title was 'Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah'). The painting, purchased in 1993, is an oil on canvas work entitled 'Haile Selassie and his Family', painted by Francis Bloomfield during the Emperor's exile in Britain from between 1936 and 1940. For Rastafari, Haile Selassie was the 20th century messiah, 'the king of kings' as foretold in the Bible.
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