Kayapó Ceremonial Headdress

Presented at the Hôtel de Limur in Vannes (Brittany) in 2013

Collections Jean-Pierre Dutilleux

A Kayapó ceremonial headdress composed of a braided textile frame receiving a large montage of natural feathers arranged in horizontal register.

The ensemble is dominated by black-brown feathers with metallic green and petroleum-blue reflections, creating a particularly spectacular iridescent effect under light. The center is highlighted by a vertical pattern of long brown and ivory striped feathers, topped by a deep blue feather forming a highly graphic ceremonial axis.

The lower structure is made of carefully braided white textile fibers, extended by two side ties allowing the headdress to be worn. The contrast between the white ligatures and the dark tones of the feathers reinforces the visual power of the whole.

With its highly elaborate aesthetics and the use of feathers with green and blue reflections characteristic of great Amazonian ornaments, this headdress belongs to the prestige finery associated with collective ceremonies, ritual dances and the affirmation of social status within Kayapó groups.

This piece comes from the personal collection of filmmaker and ethnographer Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, famous for his expeditions among the Kayapó alongside chief Raoni. An archive photograph shows this headdress presented at the exhibition dedicated to Jean-Pierre Dutilleux at the Hôtel de Limur in Vannes (Brittany) in 2013, as part of the exhibition dedicated to

"first peoples".

Dimension:

Without cord 52 cm.

Feather width from 9 cm

to 24 cm for the largest.