Copper Item Number: A6834 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Traditional shield-shaped copper with a T-shaped raised design element that divides the bottom section in half and separates the top section from the bottom. The piece has been broken and re-rivetted. A rectangular piece is missing from one bottom corner. A larger rectangular piece has been cut off and reattached at the other corner. The upper section has edges that flare outwards towards the top, and the top edge comes to a peak at the centre. The upper section is painted black with a grey border, with an animal face in grey, as well as natural copper. The base is painted black with bands of grey and natural copper running horizontally, and a criss-cross motif in natural copper.

History Of Use

Coppers can be named, displayed, and transferred in accordance with ceremonial privilege and protocol. Historically, within potlatch economies, coppers would rise in value each time they were purchased, ceremonially presented, and strategically re-sold or given away. Among the Kwakwaka’wakw, coppers were sometimes cut or broken during rivalries. Some of these were riveted together and used again, their value then having to be re-established.

Cultural Context

status; wealth; ceremonial; potlatch

Item History

What

Name
Copper
Identification Number
A6834
Type of Item
copper
Material
copper metal and paint
Manufacturing Technique
hammered, riveted, incised and painted
Overall
height 76.3 cm, width 45.5 cm, depth 2.7 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Previous Owner
Emily Watson
Received from
Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source) and Emily Watson (Seller)

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 1900
Ownership Date
before January 29, 1958
Acquisition Date
on January 29, 1958

Other

Item Classes
metalwork
Condition
fair
Accession Number
1881/0001