Ceremonial African Headdress

A Private Client

20th Century Ceremonial African Headdress

Bamileke Culture, Cameroon. The feathers have been stitched into a netted fibre head covering. Such hats were originally made from the red tail feathers of the African grey parrot. In view of the increasing scarcity of genuine parrot feathers, craftsmen started to use the tail feathers from the young cockerel and dyed them to the colour required.

The Headdress

Treatment Received

• •Surface cleaning with variable powered museum vacuum.
• •Realignment of the barbules of the feathers.
• •Support to the rachis using Japanese tissue.
• •Production of an internal form for display.