Tribal helmet
Category
Ethnographic material
Date
1890 - 1905
Materials
cane, yellow orchid stem, boar tusk & horsehair
Measurements
310 mm (H); 200 mm (W); 230 mm (D)
Order this imageCollection
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 107251
Summary
Conical shaped helmet worn by the Naga Tribe. It is made from bias check weave cane that has been dyed red and woven with yellow orchid stem giving a geometric pattern in yellow. A set of boar's tusks is attached to each side of the helmet, which is often seen in ceremonial Naga headwear. There is a stick at the front of the helmet which has a tuft of horsehair fastened to the top. 'An Assamese plaited cane hat with four boar's tusks and tuft of horse hair - Naga Tribes' (Christie's entry)
Provenance
Purchased in 1986 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund from Francis Curzon, 3rd Viscount Scarsdale (1924-2000). Gifted to the National Trust in 1987 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.