Headdress Item Number: 3010/2 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Headdress of vibrantly coloured macaw, toucan and parrot feathers. Long bright blue feathers topped by shorter light green, red and yellow feathers create a brim at front of headdress, above which stands a tall crown of the same that splays slightly to the sides when worn. To the back of the headband are attached several strands of different lengths, made of fibre threaded with small white glass beads. Intermittently down each strand are attached small groupings of feathers in various sizes, held at their quills by short lengths of palm tubes. Some strands include elongated dark brown seeds. This creates a long, dense fall of feathers down the back of the wearer.

History Of Use

Feather headdresses are a major element of ritual regalia, used during the healing ceremonies of the Kamentsa shamans, as well as for their Carnival ceremony (in which an ancient renewal ritual was adapted onto the Christian calendar event).

Item History

What

Name
Headdress
Identification Number
3010/2
Type of Item
headdress
Material
toucan feather, parrot feather, macaw feather, glass, palm fibre, wool fibre, bark and seed
Overall
height 24.0 cm, width 61.5 cm, depth 131.0 cm

Who

Culture
Kamentsa
Creator
Basilio Juajibioy (Maker)
Previous Owner
Diego Samper and Marlene Samper
Received from
Diego Samper (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Director's Budget (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Putumayo, Colombia

When

Creation Date
before 1989
Collection Date
during 1989
Ownership Date
before August 4, 2013
Acquisition Date
on August 4, 2013

Other

Condition
good
Accession Number
3010/0002