Dance Knife Item Number: A3800 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Warrior dance knife, or baton in the form of Sisiutl. A long thin cylindrical-like shaped wood piece with a central frontal head and a profile head on either side. Cedar bark is tied around one side. Painted with long upward curving protruding red tongues at either side and four horizontal black rings around each neck.
History Of Use
Ceremonial knife of War Dancer, hawinalalh. Used by youth when dancing (Mrs. F Dawson, 1952) Assistant to Winalagilis, the war spirit, this mythological creature was dangerous, powerful, and impervious to human weaponry. Sisiutl always appears with two serpent-like heads at each end of the body, which is represented by a face. Carried as a wand by the War dancer. Could also have descended from the ceiling on invisible strings during the War Dance (M. Bronsden).
Iconographic Meaning
Sisiutl was a double-headed serpent or lightning snake who was an assistant to Winalagalis, the War Spirit.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1952
- Collected in Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Luisa Dawson before March 11, 1952
- Received from Luisa Dawson (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) on March 11, 1952
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Luisa Dawson
- Received from
- Luisa Dawson (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1952
- Ownership Date
- before March 11, 1952
- Acquisition Date
- on March 11, 1952
Other
- Condition
- poor
- Accession Number
- 1888/0002