headdress (personal adornment)

General view of object no. 1982.118ii.
General view of object no. 1982.118ii.

A cassowary headdress (wiida sii) of modern type. The headdress is rolled up in characteristic fashion when not used. It is made of cassowary feathers bound with plant fibre. A hornbill feather (1982.118xv) is fixed into the centre of the headdress but is removable.

This is one of a collection of several valuable personal possessions stored in an abura (barkcloth). As possessions that are seen by relatives or friends must be given on demand, most men keep some of their most valued possessions wrapped in a piece of decorated barkcloth and store it away near their sleeping place. The contents of these packages may vary with the owner, but generally they contain items like this, and the others collected with it.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
1982.118ii
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 363 mm x 85 mm x 20 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
cassowary feather; plant fibre
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
LOCATION
On display: Horniman Museum > World Gallery > Oceania > Bedamuni
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Collection Information

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