Archives | USA
Roach
USA
Roach war headdress
Sioux (Lakota), Plains, USA
Early 20th century
Porcupine and deer dyed fur, leather, woven fabric
Height: 45 cm – 17 ¾ in.
Provenance
Ex private collection, France
Sold
This classic Native American headdress is known as a 'roach'. It is made of stiff porcupine and deer hair. The hair is woven and dyed in yellow and green.
Headdresses of this type have been described and depicted since the 1830s by artists and travelers, notably on the lithographs of McKenney & Hall ("History of the Indian Tribes of North America", published in 1836-1844) as well as in the watercolors of Karl Bodmer.
The roach was attached to the head of the wearer and a bone or metal ornament (called a roach-spreader) was attached on top of the roach to ensure that the headdress stood straight up from the head like a tuft or crest.
Headdresses of this type have been described and depicted since the 1830s by artists and travelers, notably on the lithographs of McKenney & Hall ("History of the Indian Tribes of North America", published in 1836-1844) as well as in the watercolors of Karl Bodmer.
The roach was attached to the head of the wearer and a bone or metal ornament (called a roach-spreader) was attached on top of the roach to ensure that the headdress stood straight up from the head like a tuft or crest.
Explore the entire collection
