Headdress
Bororo, Brazil
mid 20th century
wood, feathers, beeswax
BE 2333

Large arc shaped headdresses like this are common among the Bororo people of eastern Brazil. The feathers featured here are macaw tail feathers.

Blouse and Skirt
Zapotec, Mexico
late 20th century
cloth, commercially manufactured coloured thread
R1165.81

Weaving techniques, colours, and patterns identify the community of the wearer. This dramatic floral design is specific to a small area called the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The skirt and blouse are made of black velvet to support the heavy embroidery.

Earrings
Jivaro, Peru
mid 20th century
insect wings, feathers, hair, nuts
R1646.4

This stunning pair of chief's earrings is made from green beetle wings, yellow, red, and black feathers, and brown nut shells.

Mask
Caraja, Brazil
mid 20th century
wood, feathers, beeswax
BE 2870

Most of this mask is composed of tropical bird feathers but the centre of the mask is a single oval piece of wood. If you look closely you can see the human-like features on the face, particularly the nostrils made of beeswax.

Blouse
Mayan, Guatemala
mid 20th century
cotton, commercial thread
R533.6

The plain woven cloth base with heavily embroidered floral, bird, and geometric designs identify this blouse's origins. These distinguishing characteristics are common to San Juan, Sacatepequex, Guatemala.