- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Otter fur turban, part of an outfit made in an Eastern Woodlands style [2017.103.50]. [JMC 15/8/2019]
- Long description
- Otter fur turban, part of an outfit made in an Eastern Woodlands style. The main body of the turban is a length of blue felt, tapering to two rounded ends, which has been stitched together partway along the length to create the ring to fit on the head and the tail. The edges of the felt are reinforced with red textile and have a rim of white beads. The outer surface of the felt is covered in brown otter fur. At the front is a large feather rosette: this comprises a circular piece of red felt with an eight-lobed metal plate on it, with eighteen brown and white feathers attached behind and radiating around it. To one side of this a circular piece of mother-of-pearl, with a blue bead in the centre, has also been attached to the fur. Around one side of the turban is a decorative oval of beadwork, consisting of a central dot of blue beads, and two areas of pink beads with a green border on a background of white beads. At the end of the tail is another eight-lobed metal plate, slightly convex, with two white beads and two strings of metal beads extending from the centre. Two ribbons of green and red material extend from behind the plate. For the rest of the outfit see roach [2017.103.50 .1], breechcloth [2017.103.50 .3], bustle [2017.103.50 .4], leggings [2017.103.50 .5 - .6], belt [2017.103.50 .7], silver trade brooches [2017.103.50 .8 - .10] and necklace [2017.103.50 .11]. [JMC 15/8/2019]
- Geographical reference
- Cultural groups
- Native American
- Date
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 30/08/2016
- Materials and processes
- Material Otter Skin Animal, Material Animal Fur Skin, Material Felt Wool Textile Animal, Material Shell, Material Bead, Material Bird Feather, Material Metal, Process Woven, Process Stitched, Process Hammered
- Dimensions
- Height: max 205 mm, Width: max 330 mm, Length: max 780 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 2017.103.50.2 Other numbers: 58
- Research and responses
This object is part of a collection put together by English Hobbyist Raymond Wilkes. The collection combines English, European or North American-made hobbyist material, some objects made by Wilkes himself, and some Native American-made objects. [JMC 5/8/2019]
Otter fur turbans are worn by men in Southern Plains tribes, which is not consistent with the rest of the Eastern Woodlands outfit - http://soaringeagles.americanindiansource.com/headdress/headdress.html [accessed [JMC 15/8/2019]]
Search terms: Clothing Headgear, Ornament, Headdress, Head Ornament