Bidspirit auction | Cassowary Feather Headdress

Cassowary Feather Headdress - Cassowary feathers affixed by rope to create semi-circle headdress. In Louis Pierre Ledoux's Diary page 298 (lot 108, Box F1), he mentions use of such a half-wig or headdress as part of war regalia and used in the funerary rites of a man, Moiega, who had just passed away, ”...part of the war regalia which was used along with a cassowary feather/half wig (collected) to scare others.” In a stock photo of Margaret Mead in 1934 we can see her with a number of 'trophy skulls', some of which seem to be adorned with a similar headress or half-wig. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/dr-margaret-mead-assistant-curator-of-ethnology-at -the-news-photo/514690236 Locale: Kaup, Murik Lakes, Lower Sepik River Country: Papua New Guinea Date: 1936 or earlier Material: cassowary feather, rope Dimensions: L14” x W5” Provenance: Louis Pierre Ledoux Collection Similar item: Ethnologisches Museum der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin, Nr. VI 10247 b http://www.smb-digital.de/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=c ollection&objectId=2029896&viewType=detail View