Headdress Ornament

A hair ornament shaped as a butterfly, its wings made of iridescent turquoise kingfisher feathers mounted on gilt metal with small raised studs. Curling gilt wire forms the antennae, and two pearl-like knobs crown the head. The stick below shows it was worn as a hairpin.

Look closer: Tiny pearl-like knobs at the top of the head and the small rivet studs scattered across the wings.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1800s–1900s

Medium

Copper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Size

3072 × 2048 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Howard L. Ginaven