NOTES CONCERNING NEW COLLECTIONS. LOWIE, ROBERT H. (ED) ANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS, 4, 1910

During the nineteenth century, frontlet headdresses became the principal style of ceremonial headdress throughout the Northwest Coast. They were worn by high-ranking individuals who shook bird down out of the crown of the headdress as they danced, causing it to drift and swirl around both dancer and audience. These headdresses usually incorporate a carved wooden plaque that represents a crest animal or mythical being; Bella Coola examples are often deeply carved to represent birds. Inlaid pieces of abalone shell framing the plaque are meant to sparkle dramatically as the wearer of the headdress moves. This frontlet headdress is topped with a crown of sea lion whiskers and finished with rows of ermine skins trailing off the back.

Museum Purchase: Helen Thurston Ayer Fund.

Hammered silver coin bracelet. Bracelet is wide at front centre, and narrows toward ends, which wrap around to meet at back. Engraved image is an American eagle motif, with feather and shading embellishments that cover the entire outer surface of the piece. Metal is very worn and corroded, and has a hole and a tear.

Felt headband with carved wooden frontlet of eagle. Band is made of red felt, with balsa wood carving of an eagle head at centre. Bird has two feathers atop the head, with large eyes rimmed in blue, and an open beak with slightly protruding tongue. Neck is painted with feathers in black. The head is attached to a piece of black leather that is sewn to the band with hide strips. Three shell buttons are sewn to band at both sides of the eagle head.

Small dance apron of red and black felted cloth; the outer edge has a row of large shell buttons, with a row of smaller shell buttons inside. Three horizontal rows of off-white shell buttons top three strips of leather tassels and copper bells sitting on attached leather thongs and scalloped red felt. The waistband extends into ties to secure the apron around the body.