Mornington Island, Ceremonial Headdress

paper bark, possum hair, fibre, ochres and emu feathers

28 x 22 cm

$450

Provenance: Mornington Island Arts & Crafts, Mornington Island, Qld Cooee Aboriginal Art Gallery, NSW
Artwork story: The area in which possum hats are produces comes from the collection of groups known as the Kulin (Koolin) nation of peoples. The five Kulin nations are the Wathaurong, the Woiwurrung, the Taungurong, the Djadjawurung and the Boonwurrung peoples. The Boonwurrung people are the traditional owners of the coast and land along the northern, eastern and southern shorelines of Port Phillip Bay Nairm, the Mornington Island (the specific area in which Possum Hats are made), Western Port and its two main islands – Phillip Island and French Island, and land to the south-east down to Wilson's Promontory. Possum Hats are typically made out of the fur of the common ringtail possum; which remain abundant in the Mornington Peninsula Area. Although studies into the spiritual significance of the Possum Hats is relatively under developed, a common anthropological view is that the Hats were utilized as costume like headpieces during significant ceremonies’ and events.

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paper bark, possum hair, fibre, ochres and emu feathers

28 x 22 cm

$450

Provenance: Mornington Island Arts & Crafts, Mornington Island, Qld Cooee Aboriginal Art Gallery, NSW
Artwork story: The area in which possum hats are produces comes from the collection of groups known as the Kulin (Koolin) nation of peoples. The five Kulin nations are the Wathaurong, the Woiwurrung, the Taungurong, the Djadjawurung and the Boonwurrung peoples. The Boonwurrung people are the traditional owners of the coast and land along the northern, eastern and southern shorelines of Port Phillip Bay Nairm, the Mornington Island (the specific area in which Possum Hats are made), Western Port and its two main islands – Phillip Island and French Island, and land to the south-east down to Wilson's Promontory. Possum Hats are typically made out of the fur of the common ringtail possum; which remain abundant in the Mornington Peninsula Area. Although studies into the spiritual significance of the Possum Hats is relatively under developed, a common anthropological view is that the Hats were utilized as costume like headpieces during significant ceremonies’ and events.