Leather headdress with fur, cowrie shell, bead and button decorations. Leather band, that would wrap around forehead, has veil of chains hanging from bottom edge. Dark yellow and dark blue tube beads along bottom of veil. Bottom left edge of headband bordered with red and dark yellow tube beads, bottom right edge bordered with dark blue and green tube beads. Headband attached to round piece of skin, covered in grey and black animal hair, by eight leather straps. Round piece of skin would sit on top of head. Leather straps at front and back of headband are wider than the ones along the sides. Roundel in centre of headpiece, overtop of animal hair. Roundel has diamond and circular patterns done in white, light blue, dark blue, red and dark yellow round beads. Long chin strap, made of two leather strips, hangs from bottom edges of left and right sides of headband portion. Chin straps are secured together with thread covered in round beads. Beads are light blue, dark blue, red, yellow and white. Beads form a striped pattern. Wide leather strip extends from back of headdress. Ends of long back strip and chin strap have off-white and black animal hair. All leather surfaces are covered in cowrie shells on the exterior. In addition, the back strip has rows of red and green oval beads, dark blue and black tube beads, and plastic buttons. Buttons are black, white, dark maroon, yellow and green.

• 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 skin, cowrie shell, plastic, iron metal, glass, plant fibre
• Measurements height 68.2 cm, width 19.7 cm, depth 22.0 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
• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3345/0003