Speaker's Staff Item Number: A6029 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Speaker's staff consisting of a cylindrical wooden staff with a tapering, cylindrical shaped piece of metal protruding from the bottom. Along the staff are seven copper-shaped pieces of wood nailed to surface, painted in brown, red and white with lines and dots. All of the images are the same. Two of the coppers have been purposely split on the top while one is complete broken in two.
History Of Use
Used in copper ceremony. Is usually called a speaker's staff or talking stick - used by chief or his speaker while making a formal speech.
Iconographic Meaning
Upside-down coppers show how many successful potlatches the owner has held.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Alice Mountain
- Received from Alice Mountain (Seller)
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Alice Mountain
- Received from
- Alice Mountain (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
Other
- Condition
- good