House Screen Board Item Number: Nb11.339 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Incised and painted partial profile wolf head; upturned horn-like image at top front of snout; oval nostril with two pointed extensions at side on right; large circular pupil in downturned pointed eyelid lines; front and back tips of brow, remainder broken away, continuous lip band around bared rectangular teeth; at right of mouth is a red semi-circle with two black s curves on either side of a black triangle; vertical curved black line at right of semi-circle has black and red scallop-like design; series of red scallop-like designs continue to end of plank; the impressions of three vertical pointed sticks, which were once nailed to the plank, remain, as does one vertical band at centre; vertical row of nails at edge on right; bottom edge and edge on left are bevelled and painted; edge on right is unfinished and top edge has deteriorated; cracking over surface.
History Of Use
House screens were located behind the seat of the chief or family head, and, facing the house entrance, would announce the totemic emblems and crests of the family to any visitor.
Cultural Context
ceremonial
Iconographic Meaning
Wolf is a family crest image
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada
- Collected before 1940
- Owned by Walter C. Koerner before September 3, 1981
- Received from Walter C. Koerner (Donor) on September 3, 1981
What
Who
- Culture
- Nuu-chah-nulth
- Previous Owner
- Walter C. Koerner
- Received from
- Walter C. Koerner (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
When
- Collection Date
- before 1940
- Ownership Date
- before September 3, 1981
- Acquisition Date
- on September 3, 1981
Other
- Condition
- poor
- Accession Number
- 0735/0001