Two:
Head
20th c.
Carved fibrous wood, fiber
12" x 5" 7 1/2"
Jivaro/Achuar-Shiwiar headband: Toucan feathers, woven fiber
12" x 7" x 4"
Provenance
Allan Stone Collection, New York
Note:This head has wear suggesting ceremonial use.
It appears that this head has wear suggesting ceremonial use. Among many of the indigenous peoples of South America, birds are regarded by as sacred beings, or as mediators between humans and spirits. They also feature strongly in myths in which people are often created by birds and taught by them how to behave. By dressing in feathers, wearers may gain spiritual strength and protection
or indeed they may be able to emulate aspects of the behavior and appearance of the bird whose feathers they wear. Feathers headdresses are often worn by shamans, demonstrating their connection with birds and bird spirits. Importantly, feathers are used to mark identity – both the identity of the group, and of individuals within the group. Each group has individual styles and distinctive ornaments, with their own symbolism and meanings. The brightly colored feathers of the macaw, parrot, and toucan are the most popular choicesIn many areas. Headdresses are made and worn by men, with women paying much less attention to their appearance at formal gatherings. Feathers are often seen as a sign of a successful hunter and provider, and by extension as a sign of leadership. Often it is only on initiation into adulthood that a youth is entitled to wear an impressive feather headdress, marking the boy’s new adult status. Amongst the Achuar-Shiwiar (formerly called Jivaro by European settlers) of Ecuador and Peru, there were two types of headdress: a simple crown supported by a cane framework like the one here, and a more elaborate version with projecting feathers.
References
South American Feather Headdresses, Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford (prm.ox.ac.uk/feathers)

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