His hair was thought to be the extension of his soul. He added items of personal medicine and other ornaments, topped off with a breath taking headdress. The headdress, however, was more-than an ornament. It like all other things he used and wore - had special meaning and significance. It was also an expression of his beliefs. It was believed that one acquired the powers of other animals, birds and objects by wearing or carrying these items. From them he was able to gather added wisdom and insight and incorporate them into his daily life.

There are four types of headdress worn by warriors of the Plains - the horned headdress, the golden eagle feather headdress, the hat or cap, and the animal skin type

The bonnet had to be earned through brave deeds in battle because the feathers signified the deeds themselves. Some warriors might obtain only two or three honor feathers in their whole lifetime, so they were difficult to earn. The bonnet was also a mark of highest respect because it could never be worn without the consent of the leaders of the tribe. For example, A high honor was received by the warrior who was the first to touch an enemy fallen in battle, for this meant the warrior was at the very front of fighting. Feathers were notched and decorated to designate an event and told individual stories such as killing, scalping, capturing an enemy's weapon and shield, and whether the deed had been done on horseback or foot.

A chief's war bonnet is comprised of feathers received for good deeds to his community and is worn in high honor. Each feather would represent a good deed.


All of our headdresses are hand beaded (lazy stitch or applique’ brow bands in traditional colors - not loom beaded.

All feathers are hand wrapped and hand painted with trade cloth/old time cotton calico or other material. The preferred color in the old days was red or yellow. Feathers are decorated with horse hair, breath feathers, gypsum, buckskin/elk or fur on tips of feathers. We also utilize clay paints. Each headdress is antiqued to look old (if required).

Deer skin or Elk skullcaps are covered with buffalo wool, otter, other fur or feathers - and applied in various ways. Headdresses are adorned with buffalo hair, ribbon, ermine, quill work, braided leather, bead work, feather side drops, aged tin cones, hawk bells and dance bells, etc. Tin cones are not crimped as you see on many replicas. This is not correct.


about our headdresses / war bonnets


caps - (buckskin) deer, elk, etc.

caps covered with otter, buffalo, rabbit, feathers, etc

glass beads

ermine, calico, leather drops

hand wrapped feathers

hand painted feathers

coup dots made from gypsum, fur, buckskin, etc


trade cloth

clay paints

headdresses can be aged to look old

horse hair

ermine / weasel


"Finella Lodge"
by Auchenblae, Aberdeenshire AB30 1TR
Tel: +44 (0)1561 320914

MEMBERS OF IACA (Indian Arts & Crafts Association)

© Native Arts Trading Limited 2012- cochise@naiveartstrading.com