Kayapó Ritual Feather Headdress (mebêngôkre)

JEAN-PIERRE DUTILLEUX COLLECTION.

Brazilian Amazon – Upper Xingu region
20th century

Ceremonial headdress consisting of a structure made of woven plant fibers forming a flexible band, extended by a network of cords supporting a dense arrangement of yellow downy feathers

The ensemble is punctuated by a terminal cluster of upright black and white feathers, creating a powerful visual contrast characteristic of Kayapó aesthetics.

The woven section measures approximately 36 cm in length when laid flat, to which the feather pendants are added, giving the ensemble a more expansive and dynamic visual presence.

Among the Kayapó, feather ornaments occupy a central place in social and ritual expression. They serve as true markers of identity, with each combination of feathers and colors signifying a status, function, or role within the community.

Worn during communal ceremonies, these adornments contribute to the staging of the body, transformed into a symbolic entity embodying the forces of nature and the cosmic order.

PROVENANCE

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux Collection
Assembled during fieldwork in the Amazon

EXHIBITION

The First World

CONDITION

Good overall condition
Signs of wear and minor losses consistent with age