Prestige Hat – feathers, plant fibre – Tikar – Cameroon

Prestige Hat, NW Cameroon, Tikar People, crocheted cotton with added feathers; the king (fon) controlled and restricted material wealth within his kingdom. Of all types of materials that embellish Cameroon hats, feathers are considered the to be of the highest status level and therefore their usage is most restricted by the king. Only royalty or the fon would have been allowed to wear this type of hat.

Provenance: former private Italian collection.