The paint is red, green, and black.

The most prestigious object in any Tlingit clan is the crest hat. It is the physical manifestation of lineage traditions, and can be properly likened to a crown of royalty. On the momentous occasions when it is worn before the people by its noble custodian, it reminds all who see it of its history and of the glorious deeds of the clan ancestors. Chief Shakes' Killer Whale Hat is the royal crown of the Nanyaayi clan of the Stikine Tlingit. (Holm, Spirit and Ancestor, 1987)

The wood is alder. The paint is red and black.

The paint is green and black.

No documentation accompanies this striking piece, but it is probably a Nakhnokh mask--that is, a mask representing a hereditary spirit name. When the name is assumed by its owner, it is dramatized in a pantomimic dance using a mask illustrative of the name. Nakhnokh or spirit names refer to animals or to people, often foreigners or those with unusual physical or personality traits. Certain Nakhnokh are violent or antisocial. (Holm, Spirit and Ancestor, 1987)