Frontlet Item Number: A8874 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Circular wooden frontlet; carved eagle's face surrounded by thirteen pieces of inlaid abalone shell. Painted red, green, and black. Wooden handle with a strip of cloth tied to it on reverse.
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).
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1953
- Collected in Village Island, British Columbia, Canada and 'Mimkwamlis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Alice Mountain before June 16, 1953
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Alice Mountain (Seller) on June 16, 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Alice Mountain
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Alice Mountain (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Village Island, British Columbia, Canada and 'Mimkwamlis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1953
- Ownership Date
- before June 16, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on June 16, 1953
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 41
- Accession Number
- 2010/0002