Woman's Hair Decoration

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Photograph by John Bentham.
Woman's Hair Decoration
Photograph by John Bentham.
Datec. 1870-75
MediumLeather with dentalium shells and trade beads
DimensionsOverall (at widest): 14 in. × 4 1/2 in. (35.6 × 11.4 cm) Overall (at narrowest): 14 × 1 5/8 in. (35.6 × 4.1 cm)
Credit LineTransferred from the Knox Hall of Natural History, Hamilton College
Object number1984.456
Not on view
DescriptionLeather with dentalium shell red trade cloth "white heart" and Russian faceted blue beads. Files note that this style of hair decoration was worn by women of high or noble birth. Some historic documentation lists this object as a belt pendant from a Plains tribe.

Additional Details

Exhibition History 2011
Clinton, NY (Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College). "Learning to Look: Hamilton's Cabinets, Galleries and Museums Past, Present and Future," September 15 - December 16, 2011 (no cat.);

1985
Clinton, NY (Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College). "Wonderful Heroes Fearsome Creatures," November 2 - December 14, 1985 (cat. no. 1, illus. 19).
Provenance 1984: Hamilton College (Emerson Gallery), by transfer from the Anthropology Department;
? - 1984: Hamilton College (Anthropology Department), by transfer from the Knox Hall of Natural History;
by 1925: Hamilton College (Knox Hall of Natural History), by gift from an unknown donor (research pending).
Published References WONDERFUL HEROES FEARSOME CREATURES: ART OF THE NORTHWEST COAST, exh. cat. (Clinton, NY: Fred L. Emerson Gallery, 1985), 19, illus. 19.
Inscribed Inscribed in marker on verso at top of narrow section on white shell: Na Pl / 12
Flamboyant Jumper for Dino
Ozioma Onuzulike
Date: 2023
Medium: Earthenware and stoneware clays, ash glazes, recycled glasses and copper wire with 4,770 ceramic palm kernel shell beads
Object number: 2024.19
Club
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Stone, wood, leather, and glass beads
Object number: 1984.544
Photo by John Bentham.
Date: date unknown
Medium: Wood, black and red pigment, shells or seeds, feathers, gum or resin
Object number: 2023.10.49
Amulet with coin pendant
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Leather with glass beads, metal, and coin
Object number: 1984.538
Ⓒ Rose B. Simpson. Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art at Hamilton Colleg…
Rose B. Simpson
Date: 2022
Medium: Clay, glaze, twine, bone, leather, and wood beads
Object number: 2022.19
Beaded blanket strip
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Tanned leather, sinew, and glass beads
Object number: 1984.532
Knife sheath
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Leather with rawhide, glass beads, and sinew
Object number: 1984.543
Knife Sheath
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Leather with rawhide, glass beads, and tin cone dangles
Object number: 1984.542
Fragment of a beaded loop
Date: unknown
Medium: Leather and glass beads
Object number: 1984.536
Fragment of a Beaded Loop
Date: unknown
Medium: Leather; blue and white glass beads
Object number: 1984.537
Pipebag
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Leather with sinew, porcupine quill, yarn, and glass beads
Object number: 1984.533
Beaded pouch
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Leather with sinew and glass seed beads
Object number: 1984.534