FROM CARD: "MADE OF NARROW BUNDLES OF CEDARBARK, HUNG OVER A THICK CORD AT THE TOP, AND BOUND TOGETHER WITH STRIPS OF CLOTH TWISTED AROUND EACH BUNDLE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CAPE WHICH IS MADE AS A CONTINUOUS STRIP. THESE STRIPS OF BINDING CONTINUE DOWN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE CAPE, EVERY HALF INCH. IT WAS MADE TO PUT OVER THE HEAD AND RESTS ON THE SHOULDERS. THIS SPECIMEN WAS INCLUDED IN THIS ACCESSION BECAUSE A TAG OF THIS COS. WAS ON IT WITHOUT ANY OTHER NUMBER. R. ELDER, JR." Formerly on exhibit in NHB Hall 9, Case 29. Exhibit label identified it as a rain cape.Cape woven of inner bark of the cedar and, near the bottom, strips of cotton cloth. A row of cotton cloth is also woven into the cedar near the neck. The neck is bound with a leather strip, wound around it.There is some question whether this is actually part of accession 12296. It was formerly on exhibit in NMNH Exhibit Hall 9, case 29, and the exhibit book noted about it (presumably based on a tag with the artifact?) that it was "Swan # 25", which would imply it was collected/donated by James G. Swan. However, no tag with that information was located when it was removed from exhibit in 2004. E72662 from Accession No. 12690 is a cape from Swan that was not located during the inventory, and its field number was 25, so it is possible that the cape currently called E55800A is really E72662.

Short seamless cape of woven cedar bark. The cape has a band of hide wrapped around the edge. Good condition.

Cape composed of palm fibres sewn together with a twined fibre rope. The ends of the palm fibres hang loose at the bottom. The cape has two twined rope loops at the sides of the top and a twined tie at the centre.

Long, lined cape that is part of a Cantonese opera costume with 1743/1 a,b,c,d,e,g. Cape is gathered at neck and has a large round collar. Front is open and slightly rounded at bottom. There are ties at the neckline. A long slit goes from centre lower back to hem. Scattered sequin design.

Cape composed of palm fibres sewn together with a twined fibre rope. The ends of the palm fibres hang loose at the bottom. The cape has thick double-twined rope ties at the neck.

Rain cape woven from grass and off-white string with a strip of off-white cotton reinforcing the slightly gathered top edge and the top quarter of each side. Fringed at the bottom with two strands of twined purple plant fibre at the top of the fringe.

Blue silk cape with embroidery. The cape has yellow edging and blue ties around the neck. Around the centre opening and bottom hem is a goldfish motif in gold, yellow, orange and white on blue ground. The inner lining is white cotton.