Back piece for Bahamas Junkanoo Revue costume

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

The back piece of a man's costume for the Bahamas Junkanoo Revue, a junkanoo troupe in Miami, Florida. The back piece is pear shaped and features an intricate design of paisley shapes, diamonds, triangular shapes, and curved shapes in red, white, yellow, and blue with red, blue, gold, and clear colored beads and gemstones. Several of the shapes are also covered in glitter. At the top center of the back piece are long red and black striped feathers tipped with smaller yellow feathers. When worn, these feathers are the highest point of the costume extending above the wearer's head. Three layers of feathers border the back piece. There are three layers of feathers on the outer edge of each hip extension. The innermost layer is yellow with slightly longer red feathers behind the yellow feathers, and light blue ostrich feathers behind the red feathers. Gold sequins are placed throughout the layers of feathers.

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