Wooden Chest, Carved

Item number E221182-0 from the National Museum of Natural History.

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Notes

From card: "Carved in low relief in front painted on front, sides, and ends. Top adorned with shell. The figure represents the mythical sea spirit Kome Ko-tale, believed to be larger than the whale and bringing good fortune to anyone who saw it. A great favorite with Haidas and Tsimpsheans, often imitated in their carvings. Painted black, red, and green; lid inlaid with opercula; kerfed, sewn and pegged. From: page 80, Boxes and Bowls catalog; Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Press; 1974. Object illus. on same page, and following page. Chest. Wood; carved in relief; painted black, red, and green; lid inlaid with opercula; kerfed, sewn, pegged, and nailed. Length: 34 1/2 [inches]. Tlingit, (Alaska.) "Mythical sea-spirit.""In accession file 41512 Emmons identifies this as Kar-qwan-ton clan. See also accession file for Accession 41221, which contains information about objects from several Emmons accessions. It may contain information about box # E221182? Box # E221182 may be the object referred in Emmons' letter of 17 June 1903 where he indicates: "There is a very handsomely carved and painted chest about the size of a small trunk at Sitka [for sale for] $75.00."