Brooklyn Museum Collection

Bequest of W.S. Morton Mead

Mask in the form of an animal, possibly a wolf, dog or bear, with separate pointed ear attachments (the proper left ear has a section missing) and a protruding snout. It is painted with black, red, and white pigments. Under the chin is a white leather tassel that is secured by a knot inside. On both sides of the mask are holes, probably for wearer to secure object. There are two holes in the eyes and nose. The mouth is partially open revealing two sets of sharp teeth towards the front. The object is in fair and stable condition. There are nine reattached fragments along the proper left edge as well as two reattached fragments at the top of the head. There are indications of old insect damage and loss of wood around the mask's edges and base. The leather tassel is dry. Note: although this photogrpah show the mask as 'blue' the paint has darkened to where it looks black. Would be a good conservation example to clean.

Brooklyn Museum Collection

This kachina is wearing a long, painted dress, tall hide boots. He is carrying a bow and a small, striped bag in his proper left hand.

Stewart Culin provided the name Kjaklo for this particular kachina doll, which may not be accurate. Now identified as Kiaklo. Feathers are tied to the top of his head. His white face has painted dashes extending out from the bottom of each small eye in three different directions. On one side of his head is a small horn-shaped ear. The kachina is wearing a two-piece textile dress and sash, upon which are painted geometric designs. Around neck are a feather ruff and a disproportionately large shell amulet. Wrists are tied with colored yarn. In proper right hand is a small wooden bird- probably a duck. On kachina's feet are high, long-fringed leather boots, tied at the top with yarn. See the long story about Kiaklo in "Kachinas of the Zuni"pgs. 51-53.by Barton Wright. Involves Kiaklo searching for the middle, being counseled by Duck, and offering to guide him (he had become blind) if he put his shell around Duck. He appears every four years at the initiations of young boys ensuring they are initiated into the Kachina cult and preparing the way for the Salimopea and Kolowisi. The kachina doll is in stable and good condition; however, garment decorations reveal some paint losses. Leather is stiff and appears brittle.

The paint is black, white, and red. The fur is white. The felt is red and black. The string is red. The thread is red and black.

The paint is black, red, and green.

Oval shaped seal skin with image sewn into the main skin using a patchwork technique. The main skin is lighter at the sides and dark down the centre. Light and dark pieces of seal skin are used to create the image of two Inuit people facing forward. The edge of the skin has holes cut into it for stretching or hanging on a frame, with a strip of leather strung through several holes at the top. The back shows the seams where all the pieces of skin have been sewn together. There are green Holman Island stamps on the back of the skin.

item is from the Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection