Bamileke Headdress, Cameroon

A cobalt blue dandelion, oversized, and not at all shy about it.

This headdress is Bamileke, from Cameroon, Central Africa, and is contemporary. It is chicken feather. Bamileke feather headdresses of this kind are generally associated with the Cameroon Grassfields, where they appear in dance and festive dress. Rows of long, narrow feathers dyed a strong, saturated blue radiate from a tight, curled center. The tips are uneven and fringed, and some feathers show a lighter blue at the edge. The round shape is full and soft. It is 7 inches high and 32 in diameter.

A blue that does not take hints.