Costume
Category
Costume
Date
circa 1920
Materials
Plastic
Measurements
20 mm (width); 10 mm (depth); 50 mm (length)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 671241.13
Summary
One red hairclip, included with a children’s fancy dress costume based on a stereotypical representation of Native American dress. The hairclip is a lozenge shape made out of red plastic, with a scalloped edge and silver detailing, and a metal clasp underneath. This fancy dress costume was bought from Jay’s Ltd for a children’s party in the 1920s. 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
Owned by donor’s family and donated to the Museum of Childhood by Jane Osgood in March 2011.