Collections and Critiques

Four brilliantly colored feather capes and three feather war helmets, the "crown jewels" of native Hawaiian kings before the discovery of the islands by Captain Cook in 1773, have recently been squired by the Peabody Museum. These articles, with others already procured, have been placed on public display in a comprehensive grouping for the first time.

This Harvard collection of Hawaiian feather work is one of the finest in the world, and is known to represent pure native artistry, since the items were brought back to America by sailing captains who visited the islands before the influx of foreign elements.

Feather Helmets

The feather helmets designed by aboriginal artisans bear a striking resemblance to the helmets worn by ancient Greek warriors under Alexander the Great. Feather necklaces, or garlands, the native precursors of the modern flower "leis" familiar to tourists, are also in the display.

Experts on early peoples agree that the feather work of the Bawaiian islanders is one of the highest arts ever devised by a savage race. In making the capes thousands of tiny feathers, carefully selected from the plumage of rare mountain birds, were woven in intricate designs. The birds, now extinct because of the feather hunting, were the so-called "oo," "mamo," and "iiwi" birds, and were captured on sticky poles which the hunter baited.

Also shown are twelve "kahilis", or feather decorated poles, which were traditionally stuck in the ground as a mark of royalty.