Original Art Creations by Artist:
Larry Richardson

Apache Chiricahua War Bonnet

Front View Close-up

Front View                                                       Back View

Back View Close-up

The Chiricahua Apache tribe made their home in most of Southern Arizona and into Mexico. The most well known leader of the Chiricahua Apache was Geronimo; leader of what was referred to as the band of "renegade" Apache'. However, this label was seemingly unfair due to the fact that Geronimo was only trying to preserve their land rights and their way of life. He was indeed reverent and honorable as the leader of the Chiricahua.

Geronimo as well as other leaders and warriors of the Chiricahua Apache tribe wore this type of headdress which was and is considered the Apache version of a war bonnet. In Larry's own words he wrote,"The original headpiece of which this is an exact reproduction is in the Arizona Museum - Tucson. The two main feathers are attached to the buckskin foundation in a unique fashion which allows them to move in the wind. The short feathers are wild turkey sewn to the hat in such a way as to make them stand erect."

This headdress also possesses incredible architectural ingenuity. In order to keep the eagle plumes in an upright position, a willow branch was secured to the middle of the back of the headdress. The branch was then form fitted from the back of the warriors head to the top center of the head. At this point, the branch is then re-curved upwards and back like a backwards C. Then a two inch hollow quill is attached to the top of the re-curve. The two eagle feathers which are attached to the cap at the base have a notch cut into the side of their quill approximately 2 inches from the base of the feathers. The feathers are then attached to the hollow quill connected to the willow branch. Now all 3 components are connected with sinew; the two eagle feathers along with the hollow two inch quill which separate the eagle feathers and keep them aligned. This headdress is a spectacular source of Native American ingenuity.

The headband is made of two separate pieces of buckskin. One is dyed dark brown in color, the other in it's natural color and cut to form the scallop design which Apache' are known for. Large silver tacks acquired by Larry from the 1800's era secure these two pieces throughout the entire circumference of the headband. The back of the headdress has staggered scallop design fringe from buckskin and sinew sewn to the back of the cap. The cap itself is made in traditional Apache fashion. Caps from different tribes and Nations are constructed differently. The Apache was known to make their caps from 2 pieces of buckskin sewn with sinew from ear to ear across the center. Larry constructed this cap the same way. Finally, five groups of wild turkey feathers were bunched together and pulled through the cap with a leather thong then tied and knotted to the inside of the cap allowing them to stand erect as Larry mentioned previously in his quote. You may see headdresses with more color, more ornate and visually more identifiable with traditional appearances, however, non more magnificently engineered than this very rare Apache Chiricahua War Bonnet!