Wapegnaki- Hair Ornament Quilled

Quilled Wapegnaki Hair Ornament with Tassels

This Wapegnaki- Hair Ornament Quilled features 9″ of quillwork mounted on a 10″ rawhide base. Eight 5″ quilled tassels hang from the piece—four at the top and four at the bottom—each accented with an antiqued hawk bell.  The crafter added two deer dewclaws accented with red fluffs and cowrie shells to the top tassels. On the bottom tassels they attached deer toes paired with red fluffs and cowrie shells. A row of red and light‑blue pony beads lines the lower edge.  The crafter attached a 23″ long dark horse‑hair drop to the bottom. The combination of quillwork and natural materials gives this ornament a striking and traditional presence.

Product Details

Quillwork — 9″ of quillwork mounted on a 10″ rawhide base
Top Accents — Two deer dewclaws with red fluffs
Bottom Accents — Deer toes with red fluffs
Horse‑Hair Drop — 23″ dark horse‑hair drop extending from the bottom
Handmade, traditional‑style craftsmanship

One of a Kind!

History of the Wapegnaki

The Wapegnaki is a traditional hair ornament used in parts of the Northern Plains and Great Lakes regions. Makers combined quillwork, beadwork, natural materials, and decorative drops to create a striking personal adornment. Artisans often added mirrors, tassels, dewclaws, metal cones, and horse‑hair drops to increase movement and presence during dances and gatherings. Because quillwork held deep cultural value long before glass beads arrived, many Wapegnaki pieces blended older techniques with later trade materials such as pony beads, bells, and metal cones. As a result, the Wapegnaki became a distinctive ornament that expressed identity, artistry, and personal style. Surviving examples show the skill of the makers and the long‑standing importance of decorated hair pieces within Indigenous material culture.

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