Inimitable Rarities?: Feather Costumes, Indigenous Artistic Labour and Early Modern English Theatre History. (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kuhn, John
• Is Part Of: Shakespeare. Volume 19:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 38
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: America -- indigenous technology -- Tupi -- featherwork -- Dryden -- Chapman -- colonialism; Periodicals; 822.33
• DOI: 10.1080/17450918.2023.2183087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-0918

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In the seventeenth century, English audiences were dazzled by the display of indigenous artwork in London's theatres. Red and white feather costumes, constructed by indigenous craftsmen out of scarlet ibis feathers, shone on white actors playing 'Indian' priests; audiences marvelled at the novel display of an indigenous-made hammock displayed onstage; and actors playing conquistadors lazed in a grotto littered with other 'Indian rarities'. This essay attends to one subset of these objects: feather costumes directly made by indigenous artisans or inspired by indigenous designs.