Headdress
Living in south central Brazil along the Xingu river, the Kayapó make and wear visually striking feather adornment for social and ceremonial activities. They are designed with performance in mind.
Headdresses signify leadership roles, or reveal an individual’s status - feather ornaments hold great meaning as they reflect an avian cosmology in the trees above where the people live. The Kayapó are expert in land management and conservation, but their way of life is under threat from modern industrial activity.
According to the collector, this example was worn by men during name-giving ceremonies.
Headdresses signify leadership roles, or reveal an individual’s status - feather ornaments hold great meaning as they reflect an avian cosmology in the trees above where the people live. The Kayapó are expert in land management and conservation, but their way of life is under threat from modern industrial activity.
According to the collector, this example was worn by men during name-giving ceremonies.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 9/2010/2
- Collection Class
- Religion and magic
- Common Name
- headdress
- Simple Name
- headdress
- Period Classification
- Modern (1945-)
- Production County
- near Xingu National Park
- Production Country
- Brazil
- Production Year Low
- 1967
- Production Year High
- 1973