Bundle of black feathers, mostly tooth edged, with tassles of brightly coloured feathers, red and white cotton cloth and raw cotton attached to the ends. One feather also had a very small piece of newspaper attached to the end.
Local birds were a source of colourful feathers for many indigenous Plains people. They were used to decorate clothing and many types of regalia. The majority of the feathers in this bundle appear to be from a game bird, possibly a pheasant. Pheasants were introduced in the state of Oregon in the 1880s and their territory rapidly spread in the following years. The colourful cotton attachments were common with feather decorations, although the use of these "fluffies" and their meanings varied from tribe to tribe. The small piece of newspaper attached the end of one feather appears to be from a small ads page of a British newspaper (although no dates are visible) which is intriguing. The particular feathers themselves probably also had a meaning or symbolism to the owner. However it would be very difficult to discover this meaning as they varied between individuals and the symbolism attached could vary historically and geographically too. These feathers may have been used to decorated men's garters, or alternatively they may have been used as part of a bustle, a traditional part of men's regalia in the Plains regions worn during dances.
