Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund

An argillite carving of a bird on its back surmounted by three seated figures. It is stable and in good condition. The toes on the rear sitting figure seem to be intentionally undefined. The long hair on the front figure suggests that he is a Shaman. The 'pin dots' in the centers of the eyes on the boat show the carver used a compass to create the circular forms and if so this is unusual. The piece shows great action and movement and it thought to be one of the great argillite pieces by most scholars.

This deeply carved mask is painted with brown, red, green and white. It has painted eyebrows and teeth. The jaw is loose and could be manipulated in a dance performance to indicate a talking mask. This mask is identified as representing an orator, the individual who would recount the histories that were dramatized by Winter Dance performers. The lower jaw, articulated to produce a more lifelike effect, would be moved to imitate the actions of the performer as he spoke. These types of masks were once common among many Northwest Coast tribes and each had their own stories to tell. The deeply carved and exaggerated features of this image are more typical of Heiltsuk that Haida style but the mask could have come from either nation. The otherworldly appearance of the mask would have been attenuated by the flickering light and shadows of the fire lit performance.

Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos

Cedar wood, unpainted. Rear, hollow concavity. Original pole cut in half. Top half (a): Design - plain, tapering cylinder at top, two main figures and part of a third. Upper figure - raven with two subsidiary motifs (crescent across chest and upper wings, a small head and hands peering over the crescent). Raven beak, separate piece of wood. Lower figure - top half of a humanoid with large head above upturned flukes which are grasped in its hands. Fragment of third figure - upturned flukes (whale-like, cut off at tail). Bottom half (b): Design - upside-down humanoid, large animal (bear?) holding a small creature (frog?) to its mouth. CONDITION: Pole cut in two, evidently before arrival at the Museum.

Mask in the form of an animal, possibly a wolf, dog or bear, with separate pointed ear attachments (the proper left ear has a section missing) and a protruding snout. It is painted with black, red, and white pigments. Under the chin is a white leather tassel that is secured by a knot inside. On both sides of the mask are holes, probably for wearer to secure object. There are two holes in the eyes and nose. The mouth is partially open revealing two sets of sharp teeth towards the front. The object is in fair and stable condition. There are nine reattached fragments along the proper left edge as well as two reattached fragments at the top of the head. There are indications of old insect damage and loss of wood around the mask's edges and base. The leather tassel is dry. Note: although this photogrpah show the mask as 'blue' the paint has darkened to where it looks black. Would be a good conservation example to clean.

Two pieces of horn put together. The handle is black and carved, the ladle is thin and amber colored.

This spoon is carved in one piece. The handle has five animal heads, very deeply carved and standing out along the handle. All the animals have abalone shell eyes.

Carved Haida totem pole that has been cut into two sections. (In the photograph, details of both sections are shown flanking the speaker figure, 05.588.7418). Both sections are made of unpainted cedar wood with hollow concavities in the rear. Depicted animals on section (a) are (top to bottom): bird (thunderbird or eagle); adult bear; small baby bear's head and paws revealed between upper adult bear's legs; adult bear with long tongue extended downward; head of adult bear or beaver (cut off from rest of its body when totem pole was cut into two sections). Depicted animals on section (b) are (top to bottom): body only of adult bear; baby bear crawling downward with hind quarters at top and head at bottom; adult bear; young bear's head with long ears peering out between legs of adult bear above it. The totem pole was cut into two sections before it was brought to the Museum in 1911. The overall condition of the two sections is poor and unstable. The wood is dry and brittle. There are numerous deep cracks, material losses, and surface abrasions.

This graceful spoon is carved from one piece of horn and is very abstract. The handle hints at a loon or other birds head and then curves into the length of the handle until it reaches the deep bowl of the spoon. All over amber color.