Interior House Post
Item number A50027 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
Public
RRN ID
Item Records
This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.
The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.
These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.
- Data
- Data Source
This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.
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
- Made in Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada during 1890
- Collected by Marius Barbeau and Arthur Price during 1947
- Owned by Committee on Totem Poles before 1947
- Received from Committee on Totem Poles (Transferring institution) during 1947
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
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada
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)
When
- Creation Date
- during 1890
- Collection Date
- during 1947
- Ownership Date
- before 1947
- Acquisition Date
- during 1947
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 2106/0002
Ask a question
Let the RRN community answer your questions
Public
With an account, you can ask other users a question about this item. Request an Account
Shared Knowledge
Share your knowlege of this item with the RRN community
Public
With an account, you can submit information about this item and have it visible to all users and institutions on the RRN. Request an Account
Similar Items
