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War Helmet
Object Number 69-30-10/1594
Display Title War Helmet
Descriptions
Indigenous Term Shadaa (War helmet in Tlingit)
Object Description War helmet carved in a single block of dense wood. Warrior's hat. Protrusion on top provides a strategic role in glancing off blows to the head. Helmets can be distinguished from crest hats by their greater thickness and by the lack of a broad rim. This dome-shaped helmet covered the warrior's head down to the eyes and was fitted over a liner for comfort. It was secured under the chin with hide straps. Below the helmet a single thick and heavy piece of bent wood used as a face-guard circled the warrior's head, leaving only a narrow gap for vision. It was held in place by biting a loop of heavy spruce-root pegged to the inside. The helmet is carved in a smoothly rounded form. The base of the upright curved fin-like appendage is decorated with a human face in profile. Grey [see Object Description text entry for extended description]
Inventory Description Carved wood helmet, copper, teeth inlay, painted, carved anthro. estension
Classification
  • Helmet
Department Ethnographic
Culture
  • Angoon?
  • Daklaweidi?
  • Killerwhale Fin House?
Geography/Provenience/Site Name
North America / United States / Alaska
Materials Yew , Opercula , Buckskin , Bird skin , Pigment , Horsehair , Bird skin Pitch
Dimensions Overall: 35 x 29 x 23 cm (13 3/4 x 11 7/16 x 9 1/16 in.)
Quantity 1
Label on object 69-30-10/1594 & P.M.H.U.
Provenance
Collector Capt. Edward Gustavus Fast (10/01/1867-07/01/1868)
Dealer Capt. Edward Gustavus Fast (01/01/1869)

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