Frontlet Headdress Item Number: A3838 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Wooden frontlet attached to a head ring. Carved animal on frontlet depicts a beaver holding a stick in its mouth with both hands; painted pink, red and black; black square recesses surround the figure. Cloth head ring is attached to the back of the frontlet with buttons sewn around the outside.
History Of Use
Among the Kwakwa̠ka̠’wakw, a frontlet or forehead mask like this is known as a pak̠iwe’. Its name changes to ya̠x̠wiwe’ (“dancing on the forehead”) when it is part of the full headdress — including a cylindrical crown with sea-lion whiskers at the top and an ermine-skin trailer — that is featured in the T’ła’sa̠la or Peace Dances (also known as the Dluwa̠lax̠a or Returned-from-Heaven Dances).
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1952
- Collected in Hopetown, British Columbia, Canada and Hegam's, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Mrs. George Williams before July 1952
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Mrs. George Williams (Seller) during July 1952
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Mrs. George Williams
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Mrs. George Williams (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Hopetown, British Columbia, Canada and Hegam's, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1952
- Ownership Date
- before July 1952
- Acquisition Date
- during July 1952
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 41
- Accession Number
- 1919/0001