Marriage Board
Item number A7281 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
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Description
Marriage board. Thick wooden board with faint black eye design outlined with sea otter teeth to form a face.
History Of Use
Large, old box cover, now used only at marriage paying ceremonies. Another name for the covers is kwakata'yano (pushed to one side on the box). Such boards are actually the covers of old boxes; only the boards/covers of chiefs or wealthy people would be ornamented with inlaid teeth like this. The teeth would be hammered in using a wedge (not a stone hammer).
Narrative
Found in a cave or rock cavity on the banks of the Nimpkish River by Indigenous fishermen. It was wrapped in cedar bark blankets or mats, which fell apart on handling.
Iconographic Meaning
Gixsistala: having teeth all around. The design represents a face with eyes, nose and forehead.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada between 1850 and 1955
- Collected in 'Yalis (Alert Bay), British Columbia, Canada during 1955
- Owned by Edward F. Meade before July 1960
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Edward F. Meade (Seller) during July 1960
What
- Name
- Marriage Board
- Identification Number
- A7281
- Type of Item
- board
- Material
- wood, sea otter tooth and paint
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, inlaid and painted
- Overall
- height 13.0 cm, width 77.0 cm, depth 24.0 cm
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- 'Yalis (Alert Bay), British Columbia, Canada
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Edward F. Meade
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Edward F. Meade (Seller)
When
- Creation Date
- between 1850 and 1955
- Collection Date
- during 1955
- Ownership Date
- before July 1960
- Acquisition Date
- during July 1960
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 18
- Accession Number
- 0026/0003
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