Copper Item Number: A17156 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Traditional shield-shaped whole copper with a T-shaped raised design element that divides the bottom section in half and separates the top section from the bottom.
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
Narrative
15/4379 is etched on the upper left corner of the back.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Walter C. Koerner before January 1973
- Received from Walter C. Koerner (Donor) during January 1973
What
- Name
- Copper
- Identification Number
- A17156
- Type of Item
- copper
- Material
- copper metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- beaten
- Overall
- height 74.3 cm, width 54.3 cm, depth 2.1 cm
Who
- Culture
- Northwest Coast
- Previous Owner
- Walter C. Koerner
- Received from
- Walter C. Koerner (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
When
- Ownership Date
- before January 1973
- Acquisition Date
- during January 1973
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0233/0023