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Object Number
05-7-10/65454
Display Title
Killer Whale Forehead Mask
Descriptions
Object Description
Carved wooden mask representing the full shape of a killer whale (or "orca" - Orcinus orca) with wolf crest on tail. Worn in dance. The body is hollowed out so that it can be worn on the head. The fluked tail is rigged to the whale's body with lengths of sinew. The tall, upright dorsal fin pierced with a round hole is also rigged to the whale's back and tail with sinew. Thus, both the flukes and the dorsal fin are hinged to its body and can be articulated. Undulating movements that simulate a whale leaping from the water can be controlled from within the mask by means of strings. The elongated head, the smoothly slim snout and the rather large elongated nostrils rimmed with copper are features that are common to Tsimshian objects depicting killer whales. The long mouth [see Object Description text entry for extended description]
Inventory Description
Killer-whale mask, carved wood with copper inlay, hair, teeth
Classification
- Mask
Department
Ethnographic
Culture
- Bella Bella
- Dakleweidi
- Tsimshian
- Angoon
- Kluckwan
Geography/Provenience/Site Name
North America
Additional Geographic Terms
Northwest Coast
Dimensions
Overall: 88 x 62.5 x 25.5 cm (34 5/8 x 24 5/8 x 10 1/16 in.)
Quantity
1
Label on object
05-7-10/65454
Provenance
Collector
Grace A. Nicholson
Donor
Mr. Lewis Hobart Farlow
(01/01/1905)
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| PrimaryMedia | Object Number | Title | Classification | Geography/Provenience | SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33-84-10/1779 | Chilkat blanket |
Blanket
|
North America
| |
| 69-30-10/1590 | Killer Whale War Helmet |
Raw Material
Helmet |
Alaska
| |
| 2004.24.34284 | Killer whale headdress in 3 pieces |
North America
| ||
| 69-30-10/2170 | Leather Sheath |
Dagger
|
Alaska
| |
| 69-30-10/1602 | Wooden Humanoid Bird/Bear Mask |
Mask
|
Alaska
| |
| 65-36-10/44139 | Woven cedar bark mat with painted design |
Mat
|
Vancouver Island
| |
| 21-22-10/97904.5 | Thunder-bird and whale, principal crest of the g.ig.ilqamllan |
Carving
|
Fort Rupert
| |
| 69-30-10/1843 | Pipe, head of an animal |
Pipe
|
Alaska
| |
| 69-30-10/1871 | Wooden pipe; gunstock pipe with abalone shell inserts |
Pipe
|
Alaska
| |
| 94-57-10/R223 | Effigy of orca or killer-whale in antler |
Raw Material
Carving |
North America
| |
| 05-7-10/64469 | Bracelet of copper, design two killer whales |
Bracelet
|
Alaska
| |
| 69-30-10/65445 | Ornament for headdress representing killer whale |
Raw Material
Ornament |
Alaska
|