Collection place: Samoa / Year collected: [Missing] / Function: 3.1 Status Objects and Insignia of Office - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Collection place Samoa Year collected [Missing] Function 3.1 Status Objects and Insignia of Office

Hearst Museum object titled Girl's hair headdress, accession number 11-483, described as The human hair headdress (tuinga lau ulu) is a Samoan mark of status worn on important occasions by the village virgin (taupou) or the son of the high chief (manaia). Hair is obtained from healthy girls of good family and bleached by treatment with saltwater and sun. The hair, tied into tufts, is strung into cords; a typical headdress has about 140 tufts. A framework (lave) of sticks, feathers and mirrors (modern substitutes for shells) is mounted at the front of the headdress above two forehead bands (pale fuiono) of Nautilus pompilius shells. The headdress fits tightly over a cap of tapa cloth, and is said to cause great discomfort to the wearer.

Hearst Museum object titled Headband, accession number 11-1082, described as Headband of nautilus chambers and nuclei.

Hearst Museum object titled Headdress, accession number 11-467, described as Head-dress of mirrors and peacock feathers.

Hearst Museum object titled Mat, accession number 11-39435, described as Fine mat, fringed on 2 edges, one plain and one decorated at end of plaiting with short wide strips of grass, green feathers and red wool yarn; worn as skirt to distinguish rank during festive and ceremonial occasions

Hearst Museum object titled Mat, accession number 11-39434, described as Fine mat; row of twill at intervals and slits along decorated edge; fringe along all edges and one edge with ends of plaiting serrated and a row of wider short strands and red feathers sewn on just above; inscribed “Failuga”; worn as skirt to distinguish rank during festive and ceremonial occasions

Hearst Museum object titled Mat, accession number 11-39432, described as Fine mat; fringe on the 2 short edges, one edge plain and the other finished with overhand knotted network and a strip of red cotton cloth with red feathers sewn at edge of plaiting above the knotting; worn as skirt to distinguish rank during festive and ceremonial occasions

Hearst Museum object titled Mat, accession number 11-39433, described as Fine mat; lain fringe on 2 edges; one of these edges also with red, yellow and white Fijian parrot feathers sewn on above row of wide short strips of grass along the top of the fringe; “Sina Samata - I Taumalefau” written on it; worn as skirt to distinguish rank during festive and ceremonial occasions

Hearst Museum object titled Necklace, accession number 11-468, described as Necklace of shells.