headdress

headdress

headdress

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Introduction

A headdress of haired deerskin, porcupine quills and birchbark, attributable to the Anishinaabe or Haudenosaunee/Hodenosaunee. Formerly in the late 18th century Leverian Museum in London, where it was depicted in a water colour painting by Sarah Stone (British Museum number: Am2006,Drg.53). Purchased in 1922 by Louis C. G. Clarke for the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, from Arthur Holsworth of the Widdicombe House Collection.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee
Nation of Origin

Based on comparison to similar headdresses collected by British soldiers who came into contact with these nations while fighting in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution.

Date Made or Date Range: 1775 to 1800
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and the GRASAC research team.

Materials

haired deerskin; birchbark; splints; porcupine quills natural and dyed red, orange, black, and green; feathers; wood; vegetable fibre or linen thread

Techniques or Format

The deerskin band is backed by birchbark, with quill-wrapped splints attached horizontally to the top and bottom edges. Two cylindrical feather holders are attached to the front and back and a feather cut in half vertically into two elements is inserted into each. Between the quill wrapped bands, six pairs of opposed short, braided quills are sewn in short zig-zags.

Motifs and Patterns

Geometric checkered diamonds and half diamonds, zig-zags.

Additional Context

The zig-zags may represent serpents.

Condition: Good.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Based on its similarity to headdresses in the Blair Castle and Caldwell collections, collected by soldiers who fought in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution.

Current Location: Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1922.979
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1922
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Louis C. G. Clarke
Collection Narratives and Histories

Purchased for the museum by Louis C. G. Clarke from Arthur Holsworth of Widdicombe House Collection. Probably acquired for the Widdicombe House from the 1804 sale of the Leverian collection which had been acquired from late 18th century museum of Sir Ashton Lever by Mr. Parkinson.

Publication History

J.C.H.King, `'Woodlands Art as Depicted by Sarah Stone in the Collection of Sir Ashton Lever, American Indian Art Magazine, Vo. 18, no 2, Spring 1993, 32-45.

GKS Reference Number: 26394
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabe/Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee artist, headdress. Currently in the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 1922.979. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip May 2009; GRASAC item id 26394.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a GRASAC research trip to Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 4-9 2009.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Participants: Trudy Nicks, Laura Peers, Alison Brown, Sherry Farrell-Racette, Rachel Hand, Ruth Phillips, Stacey Loyer, and Amber Berson.

Approximate Place of Origin

43.3, -78.1

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