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Iroquois
The Eastern Woodlands Iroquois Nations established a headdress
known as the gustoweh “cap”. It is the only Native American
headdress in North America that has a wooden frame made from ash
wood. The ash wood is roughly 2” wide and is bent to form the
circumference of the head of a warrior with deerskin wrapped
around the wood for comfort. Another piece of ash is bent and
formed over the center (top) of the gustoweh cap which is used
to attach the large eagle plumes on the outside center of cap.
The base of a wing bone roughly two inches long was secured to
the out side of the ash wood with sinew. This particular item
housed the plume or plumes, allowing the plume to stand upright
and even twirl in the wind. Quite often on the outside of the ash wood base adorned an
ornate crown-like silver band. Larry made this sterling silver
crown band exactly like the original. Red trade cloth is found
under the sterling silver crown and is fringed at the bottom.
The red trade cloth shows through the triangle cut-outs within
the crown. On both sides of the
upright feather adorns two small red trade cloth tassels
attached to the top and the bottom of the quill, again, exactly
like the original.
The Iroquois were influenced by the French and English
exemplifying the crown. Groupings of other feathers such as
hawk, owl and other birds of the Eastern Woodlands region were
adorned to the outside top of cap.
All 6 Iroquois Nations were identified by the arrangement of the
eagle plumes which adorned the top of the gustoweh cap.
Identifying symbols are as follows:
Seneca - One upright feather
Mohawk – Three upright feathers (in a row)
Onondaga – One upright in addition to one side feather
Cayuga - One feather off to the side
Oneida – Two upright and one side feather
Tuscarora – No upright or side plumes ; only cluster of feathers
on top of cap
As you now know, this is an example of the Seneca tribe.
Larry’s talent as a woodworker and silversmith are characterized
through this particular
headdress. I know this work of art meant a lot to Larry because
of his own Iroquois heritage. |
