Headdress Used In Sacred Dances Item Number: E11373-0 from the National Museum of Natural History
Notes
FROM CARD: "IMAGE OF SACRED BIRD. BEARS TAG: "DANCING HEADDRESS. BIRD OVER SEA MONSTER." A SECOND TAG: "SITKA, ALASKA. KOLOSH INDIANS, ALASKA. THE SACRED BIRD WHICH BROUGHT OVER THEIR ANCESTORS FROM ASIA. THIS IS A HEAD DRESS USED ONLY AT THEIR SACRED DANCES. V. COLYER." IS ACTUALLY A BIRD-HEAD, WHOSE BREAST IS FORMED INTO THE FACE OF A SEA-CREATURE WITH A ROW OF TINY SHELLS FOR TEETH. OF WOOD, BUT BACK, WINGS, AND TAIL OF BIRD ARE OF LEATHER WITH PAINTED DESIGNS. LOAN: ROBERT H. LOWIE MUSEUM DEC. 31, 1964. LOAN RETURNED. FEB 15 1966."Ruth Demmert and Florence Sheakley, elders, made the following comments during the Tlingit Recovering Voices Community Research Visit, March 13-March 24, 2017. This object is made of thick moosehide and features a design of an eagle over a shark.
Item History
- Made in Sitka, Baranof Island, Alaska, USA
- Collected in Sitka, Baranof Island, Alaska, USA
- Received from Vincent Colyer during 1872
What
- Name
- Headdress Used In Sacred Dances
- Identification Number
- E11373-0
- Type of Item
- headdress
Who
- Culture
- Tlingit
- Received from
- Vincent Colyer
Where
- Holding Institution
- National Museum of Natural History
- Made in
- Sitka, Baranof Island, Alaska, USA
- Collected in
- Sitka, Baranof Island, Alaska, USA
When
- Acquisition Date
- during 1872
Other
- Accession Number
- 002478