House Post, from a Set of Four

Item number 11.700.1 from the Brooklyn Museum.

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Description

This is a house post made of cedar wood, dark and unpainted. Two figures: supernatural bird, probably a thunderbird, holds a small humanoid figure to its chest area in front of a shield called a "copper". The Supernatural bird has a beak as well as humanoid ears and mouth. The frontal figures are carefully carved in high relief. The back is roughly carved and relatively flat. Condition is generally the best in a set of 4. (see 11.700.2-.3-.4) There are several cracks that include many large vertical cracks, abrasions, losses, scratches, and surface wear. In some areas the wood is weak due to rot and insect damage. There are iron hooks on the back, top and bottom, evidently from a former mount.

Credit Line

Museum Expedition 1911, Museum Collection Fund

Label

The two house posts seen here and owned by the Heiltsuk eagle clan of Yálátli (Goose Island) depict the following creation story. In the beginning of time, many inhabitants of the land were animals and supernatural creatures. Some could take off their fur and feathers and assume human shape, while others remained in their supernatural form. One day a supernatural eagle, with the face of a man and an eagle’s beak, saw a whale in the water and seized it for his food. After a mighty struggle the eagle flipped the whale over and began to devour it, spilling the whale’s intestines into the water, where they became Yálátli Island. The eagle decided to live on this island, becoming human and taking the name Wígvilhba (Eagle-nose), which was passed down through generations to the Wígvilhba Wákas Chieftainship, today held by Chief Harvey Humchitt.


Estos dos pilares de casa, propiedad del clan águila Heiltsuk de Yálátli (Isla Ganso), presentan la siguiente historia de creación. En el comienzo de los tiempos, muchos habitantes de la tierra eran animales y criaturas sobrenaturales. Algunos podían sacarse la piel y plumas y asumir forma humana, en tanto otros permanecían en su forma sobrenatural. Un día, un águila sobrenatural con la cara de un hombre y pico de águila, vio una ballena en el agua y la atacó para comérsela. Después de una lucha poderosa, el águila volteó a la ballena y comenzó a devorarla, derramando sus intestinos en el agua, donde se convirtieron en la Isla Yálátli. El águila decidió vivir en esta isla, volviéndose humano y tomando el nombre Wígvilhba (Nariz de Aguila), el cual fue heredado por generaciones por la jefatura Wígvilhba Wákas, hoy llevada por el Jefe Harvey Humchitt.

Item History

  • Made between 1800 and 1899

What

Name
House Post, from a Set of Four
Identification Number
11.700.1
Type of Item
house post, four and set
Material
cedar wood
Overall
length 98.0 in, width 35.25 in, height 17.5 in

Where

Holding Institution
Brooklyn Museum

Who

Culture
Heiltsuk

When

Creation Date
between 1800 and 1899

Other

Classification
(not assigned)
Location
Arts of the Americas Galleries, 5th Floor

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