Headdress Ornament

MOA: University of British Columbia

2948/123

Golden, bronze and chocolate-brown cassowary feathers are attached at the base to a cone of bees wax adorned with coix seeds. The base of the feathers emerge from the point of the cone and are tied together with sago leaf fibres and bast string which are attached to a 7cm-long thin, pointed piece of wood.


  • Type of Item ornament
  • Culture Asmat
  • Material cassowary feather, seed, bee wax, plant fibre, sago fibre, wood
  • Measurements height 39.3 cm, width 15.0 cm, depth 3.9 cm (overall)

  • Previous Owner Lorne Balshine
  • Received from Lorne Balshine

  • Made in Papua

  • Collection Date during 1980
  • Ownership Date before April 11, 2012
  • Acquisition Date on April 11, 2012

  • Condition fair
  • Accession Number 2948/0123