FROM CARD: "ILLUS. IN THE FAR NORTH CATALOG, NAT. GALL. OF ART, 1973, P. 172. 20,857 LOANED TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART OCTOBER 20, 1972. RETURNED 5-29-73."SEE PROCESSING LAB ACCESSION FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.See p. 206-207 in Wright, Robin Kathleen. 2001. Northern Haida master carvers. Seattle: University of Washington Press. Wright identifies this object as having been collected by James G. Swan from Duncan ginaawaan at Klinkwan in 1875.

FROM CARD: "ILLUS. IN JAMES SWAN, THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY, SMITHSONIAN INST., 1869, FIG. 25, P. 42."Attributed to U.S. Exploring Expedition/Wilkes collection on the catalogue card, however Jane Walsh doubts that attribution. Carved wooden bowl with animal (bear?) effigy handle on one side. Animal has ribs and backbone delineated/skeletonized.

AS OF 2003 THERE ARE 3 BASKETS WITH THIS NUMBER. LARGEST HAS STRIPED DESIGN IN MAIN FIELD AND RED WOOLEN YARN INSERTED AS A TWINING ELEMENT. THE OTHER TWO WERE BOTH ILLUS. IN "SALISH BASKETS FROM THE WILKES EXPEDITION" BY CAROLYN J. MARR, AMERICAN INDIAN ART MAGAZINE, VOL. 9, NO. 3, 1984. ONE BASKET WAS FIG. 13, P. 50 AND DISCUSSED P. 49, ID AS WRAPPED TWINED CYLINDER BASKET, CHEHALIS?, HORIZONTAL CHECKERBOARD BANDS IN MAIN FIELD, MYTHICAL ANIMAL FIGURES CALLED C'AYUM BY CHEHALIS DECORATE RIM, 12.7 CM. W; 13 CM. H.. THIRD BASKET FIG. 15, P. 51 AND DISCUSSED P. 50, ID AS SMALL WRAPPED TWINED BASKETRY BAG, CLATSOP OR TILLAMOOK, WOVEN WITH RED WOOLEN YARN INSERTED AS A TWINING ELEMENT; DESIGNS INCLUDE DEER, ELK, AND HUMANLIKE FIGURE, 13.6 CM. H, 14 CM. DIA., 10.8 CM. W..Attributed to U.S. Exploring Expedition/Wilkes collection on the catalogue card, however Jane Walsh doubts that attribution, or at least no Peale number has been identified for these pieces.

FROM CARD: "CARVED FROM THE SOLID. HARDWOOD. UNPAINTED AND PLAIN EXCEPT FOR FACE WHICH IS TUFTED WITH HAIR AND PAINTED. TOP OF CROWN FROM EAR TO EAR HAS TUFTS OF APPARENTLY HUMAN HAIR INSERTED IN SMALL HOLES SECURED WITH PEGS. MOUSTACHES AND CHIN WHISKERS OF CUT SECTIONS OF A SOFT GRAY FUR GLUED OR OTHERWISE SECURED IN PROPER LOCATIONS. FACE PAINTED GREEN (RIGHT SIDE); VERMILLION (LEFT SIDE); EYES, WHITE AND BLACK; EYEBROWS, BLACK; TEETH, WHITE; EARS, RED. NEG. NO.43,227-D (FRONT). 43,227-C (PROFILE-RIGHT SIDE). 43,227-I (PROFILE-RIGHT SIDE AT AN ANGLE)43,227-J (PROFILE-LEFT SIDE) LOANED: OSAKA EXPO-70 JULY 69 - JAN 71. RETURNED TO COLLECTION DECEMBER 7, 1970. LOANED TO THE S.I. CENTENNIAL COMM. 7-9-75. LOAN RETURNED MAR 22 1990." FROM OLD 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY EXHIBIT LABEL WITH CARD: "HEAD-DRESS.---HEAVY CONICAL HELMET OF WOOD, HOLLOWED OUT ON UNDER SIDE TO FIT WEARER, AND ORNAMENTED IN FRONT WITH A CARVED AND PAINTED MAN'S FACE, ONE HALF BEING COLORED BLUE AND THE OTHER RED. THE MOUSTACHE, BEARD, AND HAIR ARE OF VEGETABLE FIBER. WORN IN DANCING BY SITKA-KWAN INDIANS. OUTER DIAMETER, 11 1/2 INS. INNER DIAM., 8 1/2 INS, HEIGHT, 9 1/2 INS. SITKA, ALASKA, 1876. 20,785. COLLECTED BY J. G. SWAN."Ruth Demmert, Alan Zuboff, Linda Wynne, Florence Sheakley, and Virginia Oliver made the following comments during the Tlingit Recovering Voices Community Research Visit, March 13-March 24, 2017. This object was carved from a burl, and looks more like a helmet than a dancing mask. Florence believes that helmets with iron nails or staples are newer because earlier Tlingit helmets only used wooden dowels to make repairs. The fuzzy beard on this object could be made of animal fur, human hair, or whiskers, but it is not vegetable fiber as the record states. The blue color on this object in particular looks commercial and has changed over time. This object is made in a similar fashion as a shakee.at dancing headdress, with additional garments draped down the back.