Artwork Page for Headdress

Details / Information for Headdress

Headdress

1900s

Africa, Central Africa, Cameroon, Grassfields region, Bamileke-style maker

Medium
African gray parrot feathers, wood, plant fiber, probably cotton, string, and colorant
Measurements
Diameter: 90 cm (35 7/16 in.)
Credit Line
Sundry Purchase Fund 2007.181
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

This headdress has an ingenious built-in storage system: it can be flipped inside out to encase the feathers within a rigid woven structure, protecting them during storage or travel.

Description

Hundreds of red tail feathers from the grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) decorate this disk-shaped headdress. Only the king, some high-ranking individuals, and members of the all-male elephant society—known in different languages as Kuosi, Nekang, or Kem-ndze—wore this prestigious headgear at ceremonies and funerals. Typically, the headdress was worn pushed slightly back from the hairline. When used by members of the elephant society, it was accompanied by a cloth and glass bead mask (mbap mteng) in the shape of that animal, such as 1985.1082.
A circular headdress of red feathers is made of hundreds of small plumes radiating from a central point to a soft perimeter. Overlapping layers create a dense, textured disk with a thick canopy of color. While primarily bright red, some feathers reveal darker orange-red tones. Symmetrical in arrangement, the tips point toward the outer edge in every direction. This sunburst-like form is anchored to a hidden wood and fiber frame.

Headdress

1900s

Africa, Central Africa, Cameroon, Grassfields region, Bamileke-style maker

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork