Frontlet Item Number: A6084 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Headdress with bird's head in relief. Two smaller three-dimensional faces, one on top and one below. Border and eyes have abalone inlay. Colours used are mainly black and red, with traces of blue.
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).
Narrative
The Museum of Vancouver has an almost identical frontlet (#90798) to this one, identified as Nuxalk. This frontlet is also Nuxalk in style.
Iconographic Meaning
Upper creature is said to be 'Komokwa, Chief of the Undersea World' (attributer Sean Whonnock, 2017).
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1953
- Collected in Hopetown, British Columbia, Canada and Hegam's, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by George Williams before June 16, 1953
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and George Williams (Seller) on June 16, 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- George Williams
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and 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 1953
- Ownership Date
- before June 16, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on June 16, 1953
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 1884/0005