Headdress
Unknown Artist
1800s
Medium
Linen, shells, glass beads, metal coins
Dimensions
142.2 × 33 cm
Classification
Garment
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade
Accession Number
1916.1457
About this artwork
This long, colorful headdress would hang over the head and down a woman's back. It consists of several panels of linen sewn together, and densely embroidered with silk thread. On the middle panel, small black, red, white, yellow, and red beads are stitched to create geometric designs. Double rows of small cowrie shells outline them, and metal coins with a crescent moon motif also feature in the decoration. These are first punctured, then stitched onto the textile. The lowermost edge is finished ...