Description

Headband decorated with zigzag engraving. The upper edge has a cutout border, consisting of repetitions of a heart in a semi-circle alternating with twin pierced triangles topped by circular bosses. There is a band of cutouts below the hearts. An overlap at the back is rivetted together and an upstanding floral motif piece is rivetted to the front. Maker’s mark is stamped on the front and on the back.

History Of Use

Headbands were worn sometimes on the head, sometimes as hat bands.

In 1670 King Charles II of England granted an exclusive fur trading charter to the Hudson’s Bay Company in what was later to become Canada. The company’s mandate was to protect the Crown’s interests and undertake exploration and territorial expansion. Competition for furs was intense, and in 1784 the North West Company was formed by a number of independent trading groups. By 1821 this Company faced bankruptcy and merged with the Hudson’s Bay Company. This latter company still exists today, operating a number of retail stores across Canada, and is known simply as The Bay.

Cultural Context

trade; personal decoration; status

Specific Techniques

Roulette engraving produces a uniform zigzag, an identifying feature of this technique, and is created by using a revolving disk with sharp teeth.