Notes

FROM CARD: "ILLUS. IN BAE 3RD AR, PL. XX, FIGS. 46, P. 185." FROM 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY EXHIBIT LABEL WITH CARD: "CEREMONIAL MASK.---MADE OF WOOD; OUTLINES IN RED AND BLACK PAINT. BITS OF BUFFALO PELT SERVE AS EYEBROWS. LABRET SET IN LOWER LIP. WORN IN DANCES. LENGTH, 10 1/2 INCHES; WIDTH, 9 1/2 INCHES. TSIMSHIAN INDIANS (TSIMSHIAN STOCK), FORT SIMPSON, BRITISH COLUMBIA. 20,581. COLLECTED BY JAMES G. SWAN. THE CUSTOM OF WEARING A LABRET IN A SLIT CUT IN THE LOWER LIP PREVAILS AMONG THE WOMEN OF THE TRIBES OF THE NORTHWEST COAST. IT IS A TOKEN OF RANK AND SOCIAL POSITION. THE LABRETS ARE GENERALLY MADE OF WOOD, IVORY, OR BONE, AND VARY IN SIZE FROM FOUR INCHES LONG BY THREE INCHES BROAD DOWN TO THE PROPORTIONS OF A SMALL SLEEVE BUTTON. THE CUSTOM IS FAST DYING OUT."