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Woman's hat
Woman's hood
Woman's hat
Native American, possibly Mi'kmaq (Micmac)
1840s
Object Place: Maine, United States, Northeast
Medium/Technique
Wool plain weave with appliqued silk ribbon and glass beads
Dimensions
Height x width (Hood): 38.7 × 21 cm (15 1/4 × 8 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Helen and Alice Colburn Fund and Hilsinger Janson Fund for Native American Art
Accession Number2017.488
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionThis peaked hood or head covering is an example of traditional Micmac dress for women. It is made form two pieces of plain weave black wool sewn across top and down back in abutting seams. These seams and outer edges along face and neck are edged in applied plain weave silk ribbon in red and green (which has fadded to a tan color) and decorative embroidery. White seed beads are sewn around the edge of the front opening. The same design of curvilinear elements, loops, and small dots appears on both sides of hood. There is an outer border of applied buff-colored plain weave silk in a flattened scalloped line with inner borders of applied silk and white beads in straight lines with dots of white beads across the top. Toward the front of the hood's opening, there is a wide band of applied white beads in double curves and dotted triangles alternating with small loops and dotted peaks. There are three central lonzenges in applied pieces of red and green (now tan) silk. Toward the back of the hood, there is a narrower band of applied white beads in a curve, small loop, dotted triangle, small loop, double curve pattern. The two dotted triangles in this band are filled with applied red silk ribbon.
This type of peaked cap was also traditionally worn by the Mi'kmaq (or Mi'gmaq) First Nations of Canada.
This type of peaked cap was also traditionally worn by the Mi'kmaq (or Mi'gmaq) First Nations of Canada.
ProvenanceAbout 1970s/1980s, acquired from a dealer in Maine by Philip and Patricia Marco, New York; February 10, 2017, Marco collection sale, Skinner, Boston (Sale 2983B), lot 132, to the MFA . (Accession date: April 19, 2017)