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.
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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
Club
Club
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Stone, wood, leather, and glass beads
Object number: 1984.544
Photo by John Bentham.
Spear
Date: date unknown
Medium: Wood, black and red pigment, shells or seeds, feathers, gum or resin
Object number: 2023.10.49
Knife sheath
Knife sheath
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Leather with rawhide, glass beads, and sinew
Object number: 1984.543
Knife Sheath
Knife Sheath
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Leather with rawhide, glass beads, and tin cone dangles
Object number: 1984.542
Fragment of a beaded loop
Fragment of a beaded loop
Date: unknown
Medium: Leather and glass beads
Object number: 1984.536
Fragment of a Beaded Loop
Fragment of a Beaded Loop
Date: unknown
Medium: Leather; blue and white glass beads
Object number: 1984.537
Pipebag
Pipebag
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Leather with sinew, porcupine quill, yarn, and glass beads
Object number: 1984.533
Club
Club
Date: unknown
Medium: Leather, wood, stone, and glass beads
Object number: 1984.547
Club
Club
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Wood, leather and stone
Object number: 1984.546
Image Not Available for Club
Club
Date: c. 1875
Medium: Stone, wood and leather
Object number: 1984.545
Awl case
Awl case
Date: unknown
Medium: Leather, porcupine quill, feathers, tin cones, and glass beads
Object number: 1984.535
Shirt decoration
Shirt decoration
Date: unknown
Medium: Tanned hide, glass beads, and horse or cow tail
Object number: 1984.553