Frontlet Item Number: A6149 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Pentagonal wooden frontlet depicting a hawk resting on the head of a frog. Abalone shell inlay decorates the border. Painted in red, green and black. Bored holes with string still attached visible along the edge of the hawk.
History Of Use
Among the Kwakwa̠ka̠’wakw, a frontlet or forehead mask like this is known as a pak̠iwe’. Its name changes to ya̠x̠wiwe’ (“dancing on the forehead”) when it is part of the full headdress — including a cylindrical crown with sea-lion whiskers at the top and an ermine-skin trailer — that is featured in the T’ła’sa̠la or Peace Dances (also known as the Dluwa̠lax̠a or Returned-from-Heaven Dances).
Item History
- Made by Arthur Shaughnessy ? (Maker) in British Columbia, Canada before 1953
- Collected in Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Sally Walkus before July 14, 1953
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Sally Walkus (Seller) on July 14, 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Arthur Shaughnessy ? (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Sally Walkus
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Sally Walkus (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1953
- Ownership Date
- before July 14, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on July 14, 1953
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 41
- Accession Number
- 1979/0003