Spear Item Number: A3630 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Thick wooden spear with a cylindrical shaft that is carved in two sections with interlocking ends. The top of the spear (part a) is carved in the form of a sea lion transforming into a whale with an eagle perched on its neck. The whale/sea lion figure has a metal dagger-like blade protruding from its mouth, two human hands at its sides, and round mirror insets for eyes (one missing). The bottom of the lower half spear (part b) is carved into a humanoid face, eyes closed, with two large, protruding zoomorphic ears. Spear is painted with black and red.
History Of Use
Used in a copper ceremony to "spear" copper; related to spearing or killing of animals (M. Martin, 1951).
Cultural Context
ceremonial
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1951
- Collected in Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Jonathan Hunt before November 1951
- Received from Jonathan Hunt (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) during November 1951
What
- Name
- Spear
- Identification Number
- A3630 a-b
- Type of Item
- spear
- Material
- silver alloy metal ?, steel metal, metal, glass, wood and paint
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, nailed, drilled, painted and doweled
- Part A
- height 106.0 cm, width 13.0 cm, depth 17.0 cm
- Part B
- height 156.0 cm, width 14.0 cm, depth 5.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Jonathan Hunt
- Received from
- Jonathan Hunt (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1951
- Ownership Date
- before November 1951
- Acquisition Date
- during November 1951
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 1913/0023 a-b