Object of the week- Carnival headdresses

Bringing thousands of people together for more than half a century, Leeds West Indian Carnival is one of the city’s biggest cultural occasions.

And at Leeds City Museum, carnival’s impact on the city is being recognised in an exhibition celebrating the stories who came to Leeds in search of a new life.

A collection of colourful carnival headdresses are on display in the museum, on loan from Leeds Inspired, with eye-catching designs each representing a different theme.

One eye-cathcing example, designed by Lorina Gumbs, symbolises emancipation and includes blue and green colours that represent the sea, Caribbean fields and sugar mills.

A second, designed by Reneta Gordon, an award winning carnival designer, celebrates the first ever Leeds Carnival Queen, the golden anniversary of the Leeds West Indian Carnival and sunshine.

And the third belongs to Hughbon Condor, who has a long association with the West Indian Carnival reflected in his headdress with the logo, steel pans and musical notes.

The incredible headdresses are part of a huge rage of objects on display exploring the stories of migrants and the impact they have had on the city.

Other items include a collection of toy houses brought to Leeds by Eva Mitchell from former Czechoslovakia in 1938 also feature, one of the only toys she was allowed to bring.

Amar Singh Deagon, a carpenter born in India, came to Leeds in 1966 and worked in construction across Yorkshire, including the building of Leeds Crown Court. His passport, reference letter and photograph are also on display.

A City and its Welcome: Three Centuries of Migrating to Leeds will be at Leeds City Museum until January, 2020.

For more details, please visit: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/leedscitymuseum/leeds-migration-stories

ENDS