Hawaiian feather helmet

From Hawaii, Polynesia, pre-19th century AD

This vivid red helmet has a narrow yellow feathered crest, a style favoured by the chiefs of the island of Hawaii. The trim around the front of the helmet consists of a strip covered with alternating black and yellow feathers attached to the main body. Similar strips, known as lei, were worn individually or grouped as head and neck ornaments, and were popular with women of high rank.

The helmet is one of the artefacts brought from Hawaii to England by Captain Cook and his crew. Museum documentation records that it was part of the collection owned by the natural historian Sir Joseph Banks. Banks only sailed on the first of Cook's voyages, but he added to his collection material he acquired from participants of subsequent voyages. It is possible that this helmet was formerly owned by Captain Clerke, Cook's second-in-command. Clerke died on the third voyage, in 1779, bequeathing his collections to Banks.