Basketry headdress with bead decorations. Eight coiled basketry splints sewn together at left and right sides to form circular frame. Exterior of headdress covered entirely in glass beads. Beads form a mirrored, vertical stripe pattern. In centre, on both front and back, is a wide dark blue stripe with a yellow line down the middle. On either side of the dark blue stripe are white bands, red-orange bands, and then thin emerald green stripes. Six horizontal strands of yellow glass beads, on front and back, drape across entire vertical stripe design. Two columns of cowrie shells on left and right sides, splitting up front and back halves of headdress. Three groupings of coins hang from back of headdress, close to the top edge, at the ends of alternating red-orange and dark blue beaded strands. White fabric name tag, reading “Gordon Wilson,” attached to back interior wall of headdress, towards left side.

• Narrative

  Collected by the donor's father, Gordon Wilson, while living in Kenya and doing research.

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• Type of Item headdress
• Culture Samburu
• Material plant fibre, glass, cowrie shell, metal, fibre
• Measurements height 12.7 cm, width 18.4 cm, depth 16.2 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Gordon M. Wilson, Susan French
• Received from Susan French

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• Made in Kenya

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• Collection Date during 1960
• Ownership Date before February 8, 2019
• Acquisition Date on February 8, 2019

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• Item Classes beadwork; basketry
• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3345/0001