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This is one of two feather tippets in the collection of Dundee Art Galleries and Museums. Its geographical origin and donor are unknown. Though the original information on the cloaks has been lost, we do know that we were given an "Indian" feather tippet in 1874 and a second, two years later from the East Indies. Both were donated by ships' captains.

It is made of muslin lined with feather down, peacock, pheasant & guinea fowl. Feathers from the same bird species have been used to decorate both tippets which indicate that they were made in the same geographical area.

Every museum has objects in their collection about which little is known. Originally like this tippet were collected as curios - exotica from abroad. There was little interest in their origin, their age or what they meant to the people who made them.

Today curators record all known information about an object when it enters the Museum. We research the objects and often consult with colleagues from other institutions before agreeing to add the object to the collection.