Skip to main content
Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.
"Treasures from the Thaw Collection," Wheelwright Museum of American Indian Art. Santa Fe, NM, May 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000.
"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, May 9, 2017 - October 8, 2017.
"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY, October 13, 2018 - December 31, 2018.
"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," Mitchell Gallery, St John's College, Annapolis, MD, February 28, 2020 - April 26, 2020.
ProvenanceMusee de l'Homme, Paris, France; Daniel Dubois, Paris, France; Rene Rasmussen, Paris, France; Pierre Bovis, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Gift of Arnold Alderman, New Haven, Connecticut, in honor of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw
BibliographyVincent, Gilbert T. Masterpieces of American Indian Art. New York: Harry Abrams, 1995, cover and p.35.
A.L. "Thaw's Indian Wing." ARTNEWS. Vol.94, No.6. (Summer 1995): 52.
New York State Bar Jounral. Vol.68, No.6. (September/October 1996): cover.
Perriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, trans. Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: Dans la Collection d'Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris: Somogy editions d'Art, 1999, p. 23, fig. 11.
Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.135.
Cherokee Art; Historical Precendents, Contemporary Forms, University of Georgia Press, 2005.
Murdock, Michelle, ed. 50 at 20: Masterpieces of American Indian Art from the Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, NY: Fenimore Art Museum, 2015, p. 17.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 163.
Culture
Lakota (Teton Sioux)
Feather Headdress
Datec. 1900
MediumEagle feathers, felt, porcupine quills, red cloth, glass beads, yarn, ermine skin, horsehair, down
DimensionsOverall (Object Dimensions): 26 × 20 × 17 1/2 in. (66 × 50.8 × 44.5 cm)
Object numberT0060
Credit LineLoan from the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust
Photograph by John Bigelow Taylor, NYC
Label TextForemost in our stereotype of the North American Indian is the so-called war bonnet, the headdress of eagle feathers. Before the 1830s this cap with its crown of flaring feathers was seldom seen and then only among certain tribes on the eastern Prairies. These people used feathers to honor a variety of war exploits. Eagle tailfeathers were used because the spirit of this bird was a major patron of the warriors. Only a prominent warrior achieved the right to wear a full crown of such feathers, but even he could not make such a headdress for himself. The prospective owner invited a number of war veterans to a feast. They then assembled to make a headdress. As each feather was fastened to the hat, the owner had to tell the war exploit that entitled him to wear it. Attached to the top of the hat and standing in the center of the crown a stripped eagle plume symbolized the bonnet owner himself. (c.f. Maurer 1993, figs. 214 & 215; Walton, Ewers and Hassrick 1985, figs.43-51; Hail 1980, pp.116-123). Wild West shows and the movie industry have made the "war bonnet" the prime iconographic symbol of the North American Indian. As a result this type of headdress has been adopted by many non-Plains Indians in the 20th century. It became a popular gift given by Native leaders to government officials, politicians, and other important people. The illustrated headdress is a fine example of the type made by the Lakota. Quillwork, as used on the browband, was becoming rare among these people by 1900. (From the Catalog of the Thaw Collection of American Indian Art, 2nd ed.)Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.
"Treasures from the Thaw Collection," Wheelwright Museum of American Indian Art. Santa Fe, NM, May 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000.
"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, May 9, 2017 - October 8, 2017.
"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY, October 13, 2018 - December 31, 2018.
"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," Mitchell Gallery, St John's College, Annapolis, MD, February 28, 2020 - April 26, 2020.
ProvenanceMusee de l'Homme, Paris, France; Daniel Dubois, Paris, France; Rene Rasmussen, Paris, France; Pierre Bovis, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Gift of Arnold Alderman, New Haven, Connecticut, in honor of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw
BibliographyVincent, Gilbert T. Masterpieces of American Indian Art. New York: Harry Abrams, 1995, cover and p.35.
A.L. "Thaw's Indian Wing." ARTNEWS. Vol.94, No.6. (Summer 1995): 52.
New York State Bar Jounral. Vol.68, No.6. (September/October 1996): cover.
Perriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, trans. Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: Dans la Collection d'Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris: Somogy editions d'Art, 1999, p. 23, fig. 11.
Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.135.
Cherokee Art; Historical Precendents, Contemporary Forms, University of Georgia Press, 2005.
Murdock, Michelle, ed. 50 at 20: Masterpieces of American Indian Art from the Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, NY: Fenimore Art Museum, 2015, p. 17.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 163.
On View
Not on view
