Dance Knife
Item number A3800 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
Public
RRN ID
Item Records
This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.
The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.
These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.
- Data
- Data Source
This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.
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
- Name
- Dance Knife
- Identification Number
- A3800
- Type of Item
- knife
- Material
- cedar bark, wood and paint
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved and painted
- Overall
- height 7.0 cm, width 96.5 cm, depth 6.2 cm
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
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Luisa Dawson
- Received from
- Luisa Dawson (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
When
- Creation Date
- before 1952
- Ownership Date
- before March 11, 1952
- Acquisition Date
- on March 11, 1952
Other
- Condition
- poor
- Accession Number
- 1888/0002
Ask a question
Let the RRN community answer your questions
Public
With an account, you can ask other users a question about this item. Request an Account
Shared Knowledge
Share your knowlege of this item with the RRN community
Public
With an account, you can submit information about this item and have it visible to all users and institutions on the RRN. Request an Account
Similar Items
