Article
A ruff is a conspicuous ring of feathers or fur found around the neck of various animal species. A manmade ruff is used in the human world to adorn revered figures such as kings and queens, or in the case of Native American cultures, shamans and healers. It is meant in all cases to draw attention and to signify power, prestige, importance, and virility.
In the Pueblo cultures of the U.S. Southwest, many kachinas (spirit beings) are depicted with thick ruffs around their necks.
"Kachina doll with a ruff of feathers, May 12, 2007" by midiman is licensed under CC BY.
Manuscripts
References
Colton, Harold Sellers
1959 Hopi Kachina Dolls: With a Key to Their Identification. Albuquerque: University of
New Mexico Press.
Picard, Liza
2004 Elizabeth's London: Everyday Life in Elizabethan London. New York: St. Martin's
Press.