Frontlet Item Number: 3261/59 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Rectangular carved bird-like being frontlet bordered by a row of individually carved and painted human faces (representing ancestors). Central figure is a bird-like being by a long, recurved beak and human-like eyes, eyebrows, and mouth. Being has wings, sitting with claws inward. The eyes are circles of abalone under arched black brows. Two abalone inlays on each wing. The rear of the frontlet is concave. Painted red, green-blue and black, on natural wood.
Narrative
Said to have come from the estate of art dealer George Terasaki of New York (d. 2010); previously owned by American artist and tribal-art collector Paul Rabut (d. 1983).
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada between 1840 and 1860
- Owned by George Terasaki
- Owned by Elspeth McConnell before April 12, 2018
- Received from Elspeth McConnell (Donor) on April 12, 2018
What
- Name
- Frontlet
- Identification Number
- 3261/59
- Type of Item
- frontlet
- Material
- abalone shell, maple wood and paint
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, inlaid and painted
- Overall
- height 19.4 cm, width 14.8 cm, depth 7.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Tsimshian
- Previous Owner
- George Terasaki and Elspeth McConnell
- Received from
- Elspeth McConnell (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- between 1840 and 1860
- Ownership Date
- before April 12, 2018
- Acquisition Date
- on April 12, 2018
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 3261/0059