Headdress

Item number Ae82 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Cylindrical brown carved wooden headdress with human head features. Surface is smooth with a few adze marks. Head is hollow with rectangular orifice at the back; and one on top of head surrounded by an oval carved rosette with white outer edge. Neck is open to fit head above the brow of wearer. Ears are small, flat and scooped out; face is long with flat nose, puffy checks, white lenticular eyes and mouth, bared white teeth (six upper and five lower). Three incised parallel scarification marks are incised on upper cheeks from below ears to nose and three similar lines arch from above ears and meet at mid-forehead.

History Of Use

Masks or headdresses were worn by chiefs or other rulers, and diviners, in ceremonial functions and dances at seed-time, harvest, and special days, in numerous chiefdoms of the grasslands area. Worn with robes and gowns attached at the neck area.