Headdress
Category
Textiles
Date
Unknown
Materials
Feather
Measurements
0 x 270 mm; 1240 mm (Length)
Collection
Tyntesfield, North Somerset
NT 19977.4
Summary
A feather headdress which is part of a children’s fancy dress costume based on a stereotypical representation of Native Americans. The style of this headdress is likely based on the war bonnets worn by male leaders of the American Plains Indian Nations. These are traditionally made of eagle feathers, which are culturally significant for many peoples who have historically lived on the Interior Plains of North America. In the Indigenous communities from which war bonnets originate, they are of spiritual and political significance, and are traditionally only worn by male leaders who have earned the right to wear them. As such the wearing of 'fancy dress' versions is disrespectful to its Indigenous origins. The clothes and accessories that make up the costume reflect a generic ‘American Indian’ stereotype which was depicted in Wild West stage shows and later Western films. Caricatures in these entertainments informed the game of 'Cowboys and Indians' which became popular in the United States and United Kingdom.
Provenance
Purchased from the estate of the late Lord Wraxall with the assistance of the NHMf and donations from members and supporters.