Headdress Ornament

A hairpin ornament of silver openwork set with bright blue kingfisher feathers, arranged as a fan of stylized flowers and scrolls above a long slender pin. Small pale beads hang on fine wire chains from the lower edge, and round silver knobs accent the centre. The feathers catch light in shifting turquoise tones against the silver.

Look closer: Small pale beads hang from fine wire chains on both sides of the lower ornament.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1700s or 1800s

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