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Northwest Coast Wishram Bridal Headdress
Women from the Northwest Coast tribes such as the Tlingit, Haida,
Hupa, Nootka and Wishram, often wore elegantly designed
headdresses specifically for ceremonial and wedding occasions.
At first sight, this headdress looks somewhat like an Egyptian
work of art. However, it is indigenous to many Northwest Coast
Tribes. These headdresses were worn to dignify and honor the
esteemed individuals wearing them.
Larry reproduced three versions of this type of headdress. The
first was an example portrayed in the National Geographic
Magazine from the late 1980's. The particular headdress which I
own adorns Chinese coins draped across the front and down both
sides of the headdress. These coins were traded quite often in
the Northwest Coast Region due to the close geographic proximity
of China. The headdress also portrays a vast amount of
dentillium shells, once again indigenous to the region. Larry
used the original seed beads and trade beads from the 1800's.
The trade beads, such as the red hearts and others are various
sizes due to being handmade. Seed beads are draped in a
geometric configuration down the sides to which the Chinese
coins and shells are attached.
The top of the headdress has seven alternating rows of cobalt
blue and red heart trade beads in one row; then a row of
dentillium shells staggered as mentioned . Leather strips
separate the rows and are sinew sewn. Groupings of blue yarn are
added at the bottom of this beautiful headdress. Dentillium shells were
used on many forms of Northwest Coast regalia such as earrings,
chokers, clothing and even hard to find giant dentillium for
breast plates which Larry made one of. This Wishram bridal
headdress which Larry reproduced is very rare and hard to find.
It is simply a spectacular Northwest Coast treasure! |
