Interior House Post Item Number: A50027 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Wood house post carved in high relief; crescent shaped in cross section. Depicted from top down are: sea lion in profile with bared teeth; bird with a circular head and a downturned mouth; whale in profile in the talons of the bird; bear with protruding ears. All of the figures are carved within the pole.

History Of Use

House posts often served as structural supports inside large dwelling houses. Figures represented on Kwakwaka'wakw house posts were often supernatural beings which the family living in the house had the right, through their history and origins, to display as a family privilege.

Iconographic Meaning

Sea lion is recognized by an elongated body, rounded snout, and flippers. Whale is represented with a large rounded head, a dorsal fin and blow-hole, and bi-furcated tail. Bear is usually shown with squared snout and ears, flared nostrils, and fierce teeth.

Cultural Context

status

Narrative

There were two matched pairs of house posts inside the dwelling. Only this post from the rear of the house still exists.

Item History

What

Name
Interior House Post
Identification Number
A50027
Type of Item
house post
Material
red cedar wood
Manufacturing Technique
carved
Overall
height 4.1 m, width 0.6 m, depth 0.8 m

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Field Collector
Marius Barbeau and Arthur Price
Previous Owner
Committee on Totem Poles
Received from
Committee on Totem Poles (Transferring institution)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
during 1890
Collection Date
during 1947
Ownership Date
before 1947
Acquisition Date
during 1947

Other

Condition
fair
Accession Number
2106/0002