Museum Purchase: Indian Collection Subscription Fund, Rasmussen Collection of Northwest Coast Indian Art.

Museum Purchase: Indian Collection Subscription Fund, Rasmussen Collection of Northwest Coast Indian Art.

An oil dish beautifully carved of alder to represent either a seal of a sea lion. The eyes and joint of the tail flippers are inlaid with pearl, and operculum is used in the nostrils, teeth, front flipper joints, and around the edge of the dish. It is also decorated with small white trade beads. Three of Mr. Rasmussen's informants thought the figure represented a sea lion. One of them also believed the dish to be a mortar, in which case its greasiness would indicate that it was used for mashing salmon eggs and berries. Exact place of origin unknown.

Gift of Margaret S. Bedell

Figure of Maximon/San Simon seated on a chair and festooned with offerings. The painted wood body is dressed in a green fabric army uniform and red scarf and is bound to a wooden chair with straw seat with a multi-coloured belt that ties a metal sword around his waist. The head with metal hat (part b) is on a metal post that sticks into the neck and is removable. Other offerings include a metal necklace (c), two paper money bills (parts d, g), a colourful clay incense burner (e), and a glass bottle of liquid (part f).

Small sliver plated make-up box. Top has a fold up mirror, and connects when closed to the front with a decorative latch. Box holds two long thin drawers, the top of which (part b) comes out, and the bottom is stuck in place. Each has two leaf-shaped hanging handles on the front. Hanging bar handles protrude from the sides (one handle is missing, the other, part c, is loose). The sides and front of drawers are finely engraved with scenes of flowers, foliage and birds. The lid shows a scene of a man and woman embracing among trees and birds, surrounded by low trellises. Part d is a small brush with a thin silver handle and long stiff bristles. Part e is a varnished wooden comb with fine teeth and painted flowers and branches on its front.

Wooden crucifix. The figure of Christ has protruding eyes, lips and nose, and the hands are attached to the cross with leather straps. There is a leather halo above his head. The crucifix is painted, and there is a tile mosaic design on the cross, with "INRI" painted above. There is a round metal hook at the top.

BODY ART: MARKS OF IDENTITY (AMNH, NEW YORK, NY, USA, 1999)