[War Bonnet] This unusual Comanche war bonnet is made of parrot feathers rather than the more usual eagle feathers. Collected in Oklahoma in 1914, it shows Native Americans' use of exotic materials in the creation of a traditional piece. The Comanches, like other Native American peoples, permit only brave, honorable, and respected men to wear the war bonnet.

Courtesy of the National Museum of the American Indian
Feather War Bonnet, Comanche peoples, central plains states, about 1900, parrot feathers, cloth, glass beads, and animal horn

[Back to:] Return to A Celebration of Community
Contacts | FAQ | Press Room | Privacy | Copyright
Top  Top