From old tag with artifact: "VI. Tray Dish. Haida & Tsimshian. not farther south."

FROM 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY EXHIBIT LABEL WITH CARD: "HEAD OF FISH-DART.---MADE OF NATIVE COPPER; FIVE BARBS ON EACH SIDE; THROUGH THE SHANK IS ROVE A STRAP MADE OF BRAIDED SINEW. LENGTH, 7 INCHES. FORT SIMPSON, BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1876. 20,653. COLLECTED BY JAMES G. SWAN."This object is on loan to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, from 2010 through 2027.Source of the information below: Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center Alaska Native Collections: Sharing Knowledge website, by Aron Crowell, entry on this artifact http://alaska.si.edu/record.asp?id=526, retrieved 4-24-2012: Spear head, Tsimshian. Seal meat and fat are highly important foods, and their oil is used to preserve berries and as a condiment for eating dried fish. Seals were traditionally killed from canoes using long spears with barbed heads. This spear head, which is attached to a piece of braided seaweed [sic] line, was forged from an iron trade file. Faint parallel lines from the file can still be seen.From 2009 Conservation Condition Report by Kim Cullen Cobb: Metal spear head with a braided sinew cord tied through a hole in the proximal end. The metal spearhead is fabricated from a iron file trade item. The file cross-hatching from the original tool is visible in the surface texture; the iron was subsequently carved into the shape of a barbed spearhead. There are five barbs extending down each side, with a groove running down the middle of the spearhead and out to the end of each barb point. The cordage running from the spearhead consists of four strands and is strung through a hole at the end of the spear. A darker cord wrapping ties the heavier cord near the spearhead. Eight strands are twisted together and four are tied around the others at 17 cm. From here, the remaining four cords are braided down the length of the line and then tied in a slip knot at the end. Research shows that seaweed was sometimes used as fishing or hunting line, and the waxy, fibrous appearance of the cord suggests that it could possibly be made of bull kelp. However, comparisons made with this material and examples of seaweed in the NMNH collections indicate that the cord is likely fabricated from thick strands of sinew.

From card: "Wood painted red, white and black. Modern carving. According to Norman Tait, Nishga artist, "this is a Tsimshian mask, probably carved on the Skeena River, used for dancing (indicated by black stripe across the face). Carved of alder wood, well done, but quickly done, probably in preparation for a winter dance." (10/21/85). This mask has two catalog numbers: 274242 and 360363. W. Sturtevant requested that the 274242 number be used and the 360363 number be "retired", with a blank card in the file referring to 274242. (Card and ledger books changed by S. Crawford, 10/25/85)." LEDGER AND CATALOG CARD SAY SENT TO VICTOR J. EVANS, WASHINGTON, D.C. AS AN EXCHANGE JUNE 23, 1920.As indicated on the catalogue card, this mask was exchanged with Victor J. Evans in 1920. In 1931, Evans' collection came to the Smithsonian as a bequest, Accession number 113605, and this mask was part of that collection. The mask was given Catalogue # 360363 in the Evans collection. In 1985, at the request of curator Dr. William Sturtevant, the mask was returned to its original catalogue number of 274242.This object is on loan to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, from 2010 through 2027.Source of the information below: Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center Alaska Native Collections: Sharing Knowledge website, by Aron Crowell, entry on this artifact http://alaska.si.edu/record.asp?id=675, retrieved 4-24-2012: Mask, Tsimshian, probably Skeena River, British Columbia, Canada. Masks were among the most important objects representing a chief's halaayt (spirit powers). Each portrayed a different guardian spirit in bird, animal, or human form, and each had a unique name and song. Nisga'a artist Norman Tait commented that this example was probably from a Skeena River village and that the black band across the eyes confirmed that it was used for dancing. He thought it was well carved but probably quickly made for a winter ceremony. "If you could call any mask classical Tsimshian, this one has all the features ... these cheekbones, the way the nose is sculpted, the narrow lips, and the way the eyes look down and slightly to the sides. When you dance you're turning from side to side, and that helps you to see where you are going." - David Boxley (Tsimshian), 2009

FROM CARD: "LOAN: THE TEXTILE MUSEUM, 4/30/65. 20574 LOANED TO RENWICK 4/29/82. RETURNED 6/1983. FRONTLET WITH TRAILER, CA. 1850-75. HAIDA, OR POSSIBLY TSIMSHIAN INDIANS; FORT SIMPSON, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. WOOD, ABALONE INLAY; RED, BLACK, AND GREEN PAINT; SEA-LION WHISKERS; ERMINE SKINS; RED AND WHITE CLOTH; BROWN FELT, SINEW; THREAD; BALEEN STRIPS 51 X 13 1/4 X 7 1/2 (129.5 X 33.7 X 19.1) THE FRONTLET SHOWS A CREST FIGURE THOUGHT TO BE A RAVEN. THE CROWNS OF FRONTLETS WERE FILLED WITH EAGLE DOWN, THE SYMBOL OF THE MANIFESTATION OF SPIRIT POWER IN THE HUMAN WORLD. AS THE DANCER MOVED AND TURNED, THE DOWN FLOATED OUT OF THE HEADPIECE, FILLING THE AIR WITH THE PRESENCE OF SPIRITUAL BENEDICTION." FROM 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY EXHIBIT LABEL WITH CARD: 'HEAD-DRESS - CAP OF FELT, TO WHICH IS ATTACHED IN FRONT A WOODEN MASK CARVED, PAINTED, AND INLAID WITH ABALONE SHELL, AND BEHIND A ROW OF SMALL SKINS OF WHITE ERMINE, PUTORIUS ERMINEA, AND A PENDANT BAND OF COTTON SHEETING LINED WITH ROWS OF ERMINE SKINS. AROUND EDGE OF CAP IS A ROW OF LONG SPINES OR WHISKERS OF SEA-LION. WORN IN DANCING BY NASSE [Nass] INDIANS, FT. SIMPSON. MASKE, 8 1/4 INS. LONG AND 6 1/2 INS. WIDE. LENGTH OF DRESS BEHIND, 40 INS. BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1876. COLLECTED BY J.G. SWAN. THE MASK REPRESENTS YEHL, THE RAVEN, ONE OF THE FOUR TOTEMS INTO WHICH THE KOLOSH OR THLINKET STOCK OF INDIANS DIVIDE THEMSELVES. - DALL'S ALASKA AND ITS RESOURCES."

From card: "Point missing. ... missing point [barb] is probably # 360401. GEP."

FROM CARD: "FOUND IN PILE OF BLANKETS IN TRADERS ROOM. SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN PLACED THERE BY INDIANS TO WORK INJURY TO THE TRADER. 4/17/67: LOAN DATA-HAS BEEN BROKEN & REPAIRED. 4/18/67:LOANED TO VANCOUVER ART GALL. ILLUSTRATED AS #234 IN ARTS OF THE RAVEN BY DUFF, HOLM AND REID - THE VANCOUVER ART GALLERY, JUNE-SEPTEMBER 1967. 12/13/67: RETURNED BY VANCOUVER. LOAN: CROSSROADS SEP 22 1988. ILLUS.; CROSSROADS OF CONTINENTS CATALOGUE; FIG. 451, P.312. LOAN RETURNED; JAN 21 1993." From photo caption in the Crossroads of Continents catalogue: "Soul Catcher, Tsimshian. Like most soul catchers, this one ... has large, toothed, wolflike heads at each end and a humanoid face in the middle .... It resembles the Kwakiutl supernatural being, Sisiutl, whose usual form is a serpent with a head at each end of his body and a humanoid face in the center (Holm 1983:55-57). Serpent figures were also used as motifs on ceremonial clothing .... "

FROM CARD: "HANDLE CARVED." FROM 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY EXHIBIT LABEL WITH CARD: "SPOON.---MADE OF GOAT'S HORN. HANDLE ORNAMENTED WITH CARVED TOTEMIC DESIGNS. BOWL RIVETED TO THE HANDLE. LENGTH, 9 1/2 INCHES, WIDTH, 2 3/8 INCHES. TSIMSHIAN INDIANS (TSIMSHIAN STOCK), PORCHER ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA. COLLECTED BY JAMES G. SWAN."This object is on loan to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, from 2010 through 2027.Source of the information below: Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center Alaska Native Collections: Sharing Knowledge website, by Aron Crowell, entry on this artifact http://www.alaska.si.edu/record.asp?id=524, retrieved 4-24-2012: Spoon, Tsimshian. The handle of this feast spoon, which bears interlocking crest images of a person, bird, and wolf, was carved from mountain goat horn; the bowl is a separate piece of horn that was steamed and press-molded into shape. Several Tsimshian villages were particularly known for the manufacture of horn spoons; others specialized in wooden dishes, carved boxes, yellow cedar blankets, and foods such as soapberries, cranberries, crab apples, and dried salmon.

CHIEF'S FRONTLET - "CARVED WOODEN CREST BADGE," BEAVER AND HAWK DESIGN. PAINTED GREEN, MAROON, AND BROWN AND INLAID WITH ABALONE SHELL. THERE IS A PIECE OF ABALONE SHELL MISSING FROM MAIN FIGURE'S (THE HAWK'S) LEFT EYE. MARKS) "BY E.(DWARD) VERY EX EX 36 B(OX)", (READ ON MASK UNDER BLACK LIGHT). PUBLICATION: ILLUS. IN BAE ANNUAL REPORT III, PL. XXI, FIG. 47, P. 187. "MAGNIFICENT VOYAGERS," BY VIOLA & MARGOLIS, ILLUS. P. 141. EXHIBITED MAGNIFICENT VOYAGERS, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 1985-86.FROM CARD: "CHIEF'S HEADDRESS. CARVED WOODEN CREST BADGE TO BE ATTACHED TO A HEAD RING. BEAVER AND HAWK DESIGN. INLAID WITH ABALONE SHELL. ILLUS. BAE 3RD ANNUAL REPORT, PL. XXI, FIG. 47, P. 187. [Materials identified there as birch wood, abalone shell, and spruce gum to glue abalone to wood]. ILLUS.: HNDBK. N. AMER. IND., VOL. 4, FIG. 1, P. 376. IDENTIFIED THERE AS PROBABLY TSIMSHIAN."Source of the information below: Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center Alaska Native Collections: Sharing Knowledge website, by Aron Crowell, entry on this artifact http://alaska.si.edu/record.asp?id=501, retrieved 3-31-2012: Frontlet for headdress, Tsimshian of British Columbia, Canada. A chief's headdress - with its frontlet mask, crown of sea lion whiskers and flicker feathers, and long train of ermine pelts - signified his clan, rank, and spiritual powers. He wore it as the host of memorial ceremonies and during initiation ceremonies for the Dancer, Dog Eater, Cannibal, and Destroyer secret societies, named for the mythical beings portrayed by the dancers. The crest emblems on this frontlet are Beaver (above) and Eagle (below). The feathered crown of the headdress (now missing) was filled with eagle down, a symbol of peace that drifted over the crowd as the chief danced.Provenience note, in 1841 Oregon Territory encompassed the land from Russian Alaska to Spanish California and from the Pacific to the Continental Divide. The U.S. Exploring Expedition did not go to Canada, but did reach Oregon Territory in 1841, and carried out a hydrographic survey of the Columbia River from its mouth to the Cascades, as well as doing some surveying inland.They had dealings with Hudson's Bay Company staff during that time, and it is probable that the HBC is the source of a number of the Northwest Coast artifacts collected by the expedition.This object is on loan to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, from 2010 through 2027.

FROM CARD: "A ROUND PIECE OF WOOD SPLIT LONGITUDINALLY AND THE HALVES EXCAVATED TO FORM A DOUBLE REED AT EACH END; UNFINISHED."