Soul Catcher

Item number 1885.66.22 A-B from the MAA: University of Cambridge.

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Description

Two ivory soul catchers one inlaid with haliotis. The soul catchers are beautifully carved with U-forms and ovoids, the double headed creatures having gaping mouths. It is difficult to identify the creatures, it has been mistakenly assumed they are sisiutl (G.Crowther).; Good

Context

The majority of soul catchers are known to have been collected from the Tsimshian, these being no exception. Tucked inside the soul catchers are labels with Metlahkatlah written in Hepburn' s hand, suggesting a Tsimshian provenance (G.Crowther). Illness was thought to be brought about by malevolent supernatural beings who stole the souls of their victims and cast harmful spells. The Northwest Coast shaman sought to restore the social order disrupted by the supernaturally caused illness. The shaman resorted to supernatural remedies and manipulated his power through a variety of paraphernalia, such as rattles, spirit figures (1885.66.16) and masks (E 1911.25 26), and soul catchers in order to retrieve the lost human soul. The soul catcher was the receptacle for the soul which the shaman caught during a supernatural journey whilst in a trance (G.Crowther).; Exhibited: Old Anthropological displays at CUMAA, case 21 and 22, dismantled 20081986. New Anthropological displays, square case, 1990-.; Collected by: Hepburn.J.E