AndrewD
[HoMe Moderator]
12829
Australian Aboriginal artifacts 8 – Mornington Island ceremonial headdress
This is a traditional conical ceremonial headdress used by the Lardil people on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is made from paperbark and human hairstring and decorated with natural red and white ochres and topped with emu feathers. Feathered ornaments and decorations were commonly used for special occasions. Feathers could also be applied directly to the skin or threaded into the hair and the performers could then become the incarnation of their various bird ancestors.
Paperbark interior and support.
This photo of a ceremonial dance was taken by Keith de Witte in 1955.
Ceremonial headdress in the collection of the Adelaide Museum.
Human hair string
These are the most precious of the various handmade strings and were reserved for body ornaments, belts and headdresses.
Australian Aboriginal artifacts 8 – Mornington Island ceremonial headdress
This is a traditional conical ceremonial headdress used by the Lardil people on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is made from paperbark and human hairstring and decorated with natural red and white ochres and topped with emu feathers. Feat...
Of all the artifacts you've brought to our attention . . .
. . . these are not readily comprehensible (if that's the right term). All the others exhibit an aesthetic I can understand; these are truly primitive and mysterious. I take it they're invested with a sort of holiness, like vestments? Art
This is definitely from the spiritual side ...
... and consequently difficult for those of us on the outside to fully comprehend. The aboriginal people were very connected, for good reason, with their land and the environment. There were various elaborate ceremonies involving body decoration and sacre...
