CHIEFLY FEASTS: THE ART OF THE POTLATCH. FREED, STANLEY A., 1997, Publisher: POMEGRANATE CHIEFLY FEASTS: THE ENDURING KWAKIUTL POTLACH. JONAITIS, ALDONA EXHIBITION CATALOG, 1991 AMERICA'S FASCINATING INDIAN HERITAGE. MAXWELL, JAMES, EDITOR, 1978, Publisher: READER'S DIGEST THE KWAKIUTL OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. BOAS, FRANZ MEMOIRS, 8, 1909

Opera costume blouse collar. Collar consists of two layers, the top covered entirely in dark pink, red and light pink sequins and translucent tubular beads arranged in a dense floral pattern. It is edged with white rabbit fur and the back is lined in a shiny orange synthetic fabric. The bottom layer is a light coral colour with a thick edge of pink sequins and a thinner linear design in light pink at centre. This layer is also edged with rabbit fur, and backed with white synthetic fabric. A coral tab of fabric hangs below the centre front of the bottom layer. The collar closes at the back of the neck with four metal snaps.

Beaded cow horn club. The head is made of two cow horns with the tips pointing outward from the centre. A piece of checked fabric in yellow, white and dark purple is wrapped around the centre where the horns join. Furred hide is wrapped around the fabric, and white feathers are attached at top. The handle is covered in small glass beads of white, black, dark blue and orange. Two strips of hide hang from the bottom of the handle and join at their distal ends, edged in green and orange beads, with transparent beads decorating the centre. At the bottom is a finely cut leather tassel.

A light brown, wide-brimmed, woven grass hat. Woven strips of grass, in a herringbone pattern, have been secured in a circular pattern with white plastic threading. The grass at the outer edge of the brim is black, and the underside of the brim features two bands of pyramid design also executed in black grass. The top of the hat features a small design with three black and three light brown sectors that form a circle, held in place with white plastic threading. The chin strap is a made from a light brown strip of leather, which is fed through the sides of the hat’s crown. 24 long coloured ribbons are tied to the leather strap on the exterior of the hat’s crown. There are 6 colours of ribbons (green, white, yellow, blue, pink and purple), and four of each colour. A green ribbon secures the ribbons to the leather strap.

Rattle shows five people (angels?) dressed in white robes cinched with red wool belts. Two also wear woolen skirts in red, blue, green, and white stripes with a shoulder sash. Each figure has short brown hair with a blue ribbon, a pink face, and stitched-on features in black thread. Each is connected to a small, round, two piece, unpainted wooden clapper. Bottle caps are attached to the bottom of the rattle’s cross shaped platform in pairs. The long handle protrudes from the bottom of the platform and is made of wood and metal, decorated with plastic tape in red and white.

Long green wrap skirt. Skirt is lime green in colour, made of a light synthetic fabric. Several pleats have been sewn into the top, under a thin unbleached cotton waistband with long ties. A thick stripe of dark green sequins and translucent tube beads edges the skirt’s bottom hem in inverted ‘u’ shapes. Garment is otherwise undecorated. Skirt is fully open to one side.

Woman’s opera costume shirt, lime green in colour and made of a light synthetic fabric. The body of shirt is undecorated, relatively short, straight at sides, with a front button panel made of unbleached cotton with a small rounded neck-opening. Sleeves are wide and scooped, heavily embellished with green sequins and translucent cylindrical beads in the pattern of a dragon with a long, scaled body and clawed feet. Clouds and swirls in green and red surround the creature. The edges of the sleeves have a wide band of green sequins and translucent beads in ‘u’ shapes.

Back skirt panel for a woman's opera costume. Garment consists of three floor length panels, a large centre one and two thin side pieces that slightly overlap it. All are edged with white rabbit (?) fur. The panels are completely covered in green, red and pink sequins, patterned to show scaled dragons, each gripping a red ball. The panels are attached to an unbleached cotton waistband with long cotton ties. The back is lined in a plain white synthetic fabric.

Opera costume skirt panel. Panel is long, widening slightly toward the scalloped bottom, and is covered entirely on the front by green sequins in the shape of two dragons grasping at a red and pink ball. The panel is edged in white rabbit fur, and lined on the back with a shiny white synthetic fabric. The waistband is made of unbleached cotton and has a long tie at each corner.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.